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Scotch Drinkers Only – Clynelish 12 Year Old

Single Cask | Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel | Cask Strength

An exceptionally rare single cask Clynelish selected and bottled exclusively for the Scotch Drinkers Only range. Matured for 12 years in a Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel and bottled at its natural cask strength of 56.5% ABV, this release is all about distillery character. The refill cask allows Clynelish's celebrated waxy texture, vibrant citrus, honeyed sweetness, and coastal elegance to shine with remarkable clarity, offering a beautifully pure expression of one of Scotland's most revered Highland distilleries.

Whisky Details

Distillery	Clynelish
Region	Highlands
Brand	Scotch Drinkers Only
Age	12 Years Old
Cask Type	Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel
Cask Number	#31
ABV	56.5% (Cask Strength)
Bottle Size	700ml
Outturn	78 Bottles

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh lemon zest, beeswax, vanilla bean, orchard fruits, wildflower honey, and soft oak are complemented by delicate coastal minerality and hints of white pepper.

Palate

Rich and beautifully textured with flavors of honeycomb, lemon curd, ripe pear, malt biscuits, vanilla cream, toasted almonds, and Clynelish's unmistakable waxy mouthfeel. The refill bourbon cask provides subtle oak influence without overshadowing the spirit.

Finish

Long, elegant, and lingering with notes of beeswax, citrus peel, vanilla, gentle oak spice, and a touch of sea breeze.

Additional Information

✓ Natural Color
✓ Non-Chill Filtered
✓ Single Cask Bottling
✓ Bottled at Natural Cask Strength

Why We Bottled It

Every experiment needs a benchmark.

When we sourced this exceptional Clynelish several years ago, we knew we had something special. The whisky was beautifully expressive in its original refill ex-bourbon barrel, showcasing everything we love about the distillery: its signature waxy texture, vibrant citrus, honeyed sweetness, and elegant Highland character.

Still, our curiosity got the better of us.

Rather than bottling the entire cask, we divided it into three parts. One portion was transferred into a Corsair Triple Smoke American Whiskey octave, another into an Old Sugar Distillery barrel for an exclusive sell-out Exec's Whisky Club release, and this portion remained exactly where it had been all along, in the original refill ex-bourbon barrel.

We bottled this cask because we wanted whisky lovers to experience the whisky in its purest form. It is the foundation from which the other experiments began, allowing you to taste the original spirit exactly as we first fell in love with it.\

There's something wonderfully honest about a great refill bourbon cask. It doesn't hide behind heavy oak or bold finishes. Instead, it lets a world-class distillate speak for itself. For Clynelish, that means an unmistakable waxy texture, bright citrus, delicate vanilla, and remarkable elegance.

With just 78 bottles produced, this release is not only exceptionally rare, it's the reference point for one of our favorite cask experiments and a beautiful reminder that sometimes the original really is hard to improve.

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About Clynelish Distillery

Clynelish - The Coastal Highland with a Cult Following

The Clynelish Distillery, located in the northern Highlands village of Brora, has as interesting and controversial history. The original Clynelish Distillery was built by the Duke of Sutherland of the opulent Dunrobin Castle estate in 1819 when he realized that whisky production was more profitable than collecting rents from small farmers on his lands. History buffs, likely know what happened next – the crofters were evicted and forced off their lands in what’s today referred to as the Highland clearances.

Also constructed on the duke’s land at this time were mills, tile works, brick works and salt pans, all powered by the coal mines and the crofters and overseen by the duke’s estate manager Patrick Sellar. Profits were king and the people were pushed out of their homes. Some found work in the new industries, while others literally forced out of their homes. It is not a pretty piece of Scottish history but important to understand the geographic disbursement of the Scottish peoples even today.

Clynelish whisky quickly gained popularity and by the end of the 19^th century it was one of the most expensive distillates on the market, especially sought after by blenders. Its nicknamed, the “Highland Home of Johnnie Walker” indicating its significance in that blend.  The demand for blends continued throughout the 20^th century and in 1967, a new Clynelish Distillery was built. The original distillery, renamed Brora, shut down several years later, then re-opened and was eventually shut down and mothballed in 1983, only to be resurrected by Diageo in 2021.

For whisky enthusiasts traveling the NC500, Clynelish Distillery is a must-visit. This scenic coastal route from Inverness winds through cliffs and passes castles, leading to the northernmost tip of mainland Scotland, where you can catch a ferry to Orkney. Along the NC500, you'll find distilleries like Balblair and Glenmorangie, which have been crafting whiskies for centuries. Further north lies Brora, home to both Clynelish and Brora Distilleries.

The Clynelish Distillery, located in the northern Highlands village of Brora, has as interesting and controversial history. The original Clynelish Distillery was built by the Duke of Sutherland of the opulent Dunrobin Castle estate in 1819 when he realized that whisky production was more profitable than collecting rents from small farmers on his lands. History buffs, likely know what happened next – the crofters were evicted and forced off their lands in what’s today referred to as the Highland clearances.

Also constructed on the duke’s land at this time were mills, tile works, brick works and salt pans, all powered by the coal mines and the crofters and overseen by the duke’s estate manager Patrick Sellar. Profits were king and the people were pushed out of their homes. Some found work in the new industries, while others literally forced out of their homes. It is not a pretty piece of Scottish history but important to understand the geographic disbursement of the Scottish peoples even today.

Clynelish whisky quickly gained popularity and by the end of the 19^th century it was one of the most expensive distillates on the market, especially sought after by blenders. Its nicknamed, the “Highland Home of Johnnie Walker” indicating its significance in that blend.  The demand for blends continued throughout the 20^th century and in 1967, a new Clynelish Distillery was built. The original distillery, renamed Brora, shut down several years later, then re-opened and was eventually shut down and mothballed in 1983, only to be resurrected by Diageo in 2021.

For whisky enthusiasts traveling the NC500, Clynelish Distillery is a must-visit. This scenic coastal route from Inverness winds through cliffs and passes castles, leading to the northernmost tip of mainland Scotland, where you can catch a ferry to Orkney. Along the NC500, you'll find distilleries like Balblair and Glenmorangie, which have been crafting whiskies for centuries. Further north lies Brora, home to both Clynelish and Brora Distilleries.

In typical Diageo fashion, the Clynelish visitor experience caters to both whisky novices eager to learn about Scotch and connoisseurs looking to taste specialty and limited expressions. The site features a coffee shop to warm up after a chilly day and a gift shop offering a wide array of bottles and exclusives. You might also spot the elusive Clynelish cat, a Scottish wildcat, around the premises. Today, Clynelish is still used in Diageo’s blended malts, but its single malts, whether official releases or independent bottlings, remain highly prized.