Clynelish

About the distillery

Clynelish is a Highland distillery with a distinctive waxy style and a history dating back to 1819. The modern distillery is located on the same site as the newer Clynelish, while the original site closed in 1968. Today, the house is especially known for its role in the Johnnie Walker blends and for a whisky with coastal elegance, floral notes, and a clear sense of freshness.

History

Clynelish was founded in 1819 by The Marquis of Stafford. The original founding was intended to be more than just a distillery; it gave Highlands tenants a market for their barley and thus a direct link between farming and whisky production. The first distillery operated until 1968, when it closed, and a modern distillery was built on the other side of the road. The local history is also closely connected to Brora, which was located just next door; it later faded away and returned in 2021. After extensive renovations, Clynelish reopened in 2021, and the distillery today produces around 4.8 million liters of malt per year. This places Clynelish as a modern production site with a very long historical line, where the past is still evident in the story of the place and in the style the whisky is known for.

Raw materials and production

Clynelish works with Northern Highland barley and water from Clynemilton Burn. The modern facility includes a large mash tun and ten fermentation washbacks, which were installed as part of an extensive restoration. These are the concrete elements described in the production: the raw material, the water, and a fermentation setup with ten washbacks. At the same time, the house is known for being one of the key ingredients in the Johnnie Walker blends, which says something about the character the distillery aims to deliver in its spirit. The documented style is described as waxy, coastal, and with an elegant, fresh profile—and it is precisely this type of spirit that makes Clynelish recognizable among Highland malts. The more detailed phases such as fermentation time, still type, and number of distillations are not described in the provided texts, so they are not included here.

Maturation and cask types

The provided material does not describe specific casks, storage environments, or particular experiments in the maturation of Clynelish whisky. Therefore, the maturation can only be linked indirectly to the finished whisky’s style and to the fact that Clynelish appears as a classic Highland single malt with a well-defined character. The documented information is found in the flavor profile itself and in the distillery’s role as a supplier to larger blends, not in details about casks or finish.

Whiskies

The current, documented range in the material includes in particular Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Here, the whisky appears as a 14-year-old single malt described as lighter in body than many other malts, but with a clear, long finish and a style closer to the Island expression than other mainland whiskies. The product description points to a whisky that is drinkable and suitable as an aperitif, while also bearing the characteristic Clynelish identity. The material does not provide a broader, official range overview, so this whisky stands out most clearly.

The style and flavor profile of the whiskies

Clynelish’s style brings together three clear directions: a waxy texture, coastal freshness, and a sweet floral profile. The nose is described with scented candle wax, dried flowers on a beach, and brown sugar, and the house style is also mentioned with tropical fruits and honey. In the flavor, there are maritime traits and a dry, lightly bitter finish with salt, which ties together the waxy and floral side with a more salt-forward coastal feel. This results in a whisky that feels elegant, fresh, and distinctive without becoming heavy.

Visiting the distillery

Clynelish Distillery is closed to visitors, so you can’t book a tour or tasting at the distillery itself right now. The nearby The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery is open seven days a week and offers tours, tastings, as well as food and drinks in its tasting kitchen. For those who still want to experience the Clynelish area, there is therefore a nearby alternative, but Clynelish itself is not accepting guests at the moment.

Philosophy and craft

Clynelish’s documented values are rooted in the place and the raw material. The original distillery gave local barley growers a market, and the modern whisky is linked to Northern Highland barley, water from Clynemilton Burn, as well as a style that is meant to be waxy, coastal, and elegant. At the same time, the role in Johnnie Walker shows that the distillery works with a spirit that should both be able to stand on its own and function in a blend.

Prices and awards

• Silver (2010, Silver, Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)

• Gold (2010, Gold, Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)

• International Wine & Spirit Competition (2009, Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)

• Gold (Best in Class) (2009, Gold (Best in Class), Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)

• Silver (2005, Silver, Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)

• Double Gold (2009, Double Gold, Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)

• Gold (2016, Gold, Clynelish 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky)