Clynelish 2013/2026 Lady of the Glen 12 year old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 54,5%

The North Sea rolls in over Brora, on the Sutherland coast, and a distillery that has never tried to taste like anything but itself. Wax, honey, a little fruit. This cask was left alone for twelve years and bottled before anyone had the chance to tinker with it.

Expert's Description

Clynelish 12 Year Rare Cask is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a hogshead and bottled at 54.5%.

It was distilled at Clynelish on 9 September 2013 and bottled by Lady of the Glen on 11 March 2026, which makes it twelve years in one and the same cask, no. 231584. This is a Single Cask release with just 295 bottles filled. It is a Limited Edition, and the label carries the signature of Gregor Hannah, the man behind Lady of the Glen.

Clynelish was built in 1967 at Brora and has been known ever since for one of the waxiest styles in Scotland. That thick, almost candle-like richness is what people go looking for. A hogshead is a quiet partner for it. It adds warmth, banana and vanilla but leaves the spirit in front. The whisky is non-chill filtered and has no added colouring, so what you taste is the cask and the distillate, not a filter.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Heather honey and orange blossom come first, then the soft, slightly oily wax that is Clynelish's signature. Fruit sits just underneath, with a thread of smoke far in the back.

Palate

Dried banana and vanilla from the cask, fruity sweetness and wax that settles on the tongue. At 54.5% it has some bite.

Finish

Long and waxy. The honey lingers, with a faint echo of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Clynelish 12 year 2013 Rare Cask Highland
Distillery: Clynelish
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 9 September 2013
Bottled: 11 March 2026
Number of bottles: 295
Edition: Rare Cask Limited Edition

Flavour Profile

Waxy · Fruity · Honeyed · Floral · Banana

Did you know?

Clynelish stands right next to the old Brora distillery. When the new plant opened in the late 1960s, the old one was renamed Brora and closed in 1983. It only reopened in 2021, so the two still sit as neighbours on the same stretch of coast.

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Frequently asked questions about Clynelish 12 Year Rare Cask

What does Clynelish 12 Year Rare Cask taste like?

It tastes of heather honey, dried banana and vanilla with a distinctly waxy edge. Orange blossom and fruit add freshness, and there is a hint of smoke in the background. The finish is long and waxy.

Why does Clynelish taste waxy?

Waxiness is the distillery's signature, a style Clynelish has kept to since the 1960s. It gives a thick, almost oily mouthfeel you rarely find at other Highland distilleries. In this bottling the wax is not buried by the cask, because a hogshead adds relatively little flavour of its own.

What does it mean that it was matured in a hogshead?

A hogshead is a cask of roughly 250 litres, a little larger than a standard bourbon barrel. Less wood contact per litre means the spirit stays in front while the cask contributes soft banana and vanilla. That is a big part of why the Clynelish character comes through so clearly here.

Should Clynelish 12 Year Rare Cask be served with water or ice?

Try it neat first, then with a few drops of water. At 54.5% the water opens up honey and floral notes and softens the alcohol. Ice dulls the waxy texture, which is the best thing about this bottle.

Which glass suits Clynelish 12 Year Rare Cask best?

A narrow whisky glass such as a Glencairn glass gathers the aromas best, so wax, honey and banana can be told apart. See our range of whisky glasses.

Is Clynelish 12 Year Rare Cask a good gift?

Yes, especially for someone who already knows Clynelish. Only 295 bottles were filled from one single cask, and the label is signed by Gregor Hannah, so it gives you something to talk about when you hand it over.