We’re always excited to share our favourite drams, and Clynelish is one we absolutely love. This distillery is a true Highland gem - we're big fans of uniqueness and this distillery has it.
Clynelish is a whisky that really speaks to the heart of the Highlands, with its crisp, slightly waxy texture and bright, citrusy notes. We can’t get enough of its complexity and balance, if you haven’t tried it yet, it’s definitely worth exploring!
A History Of Expansion
Originally an expansion of the first Clynelish distillery (which is now called Brora), the spirit shares a big, oily body with an waxy mouthfeel and a perfumed beeswax candle note. There is often pineapple as well as bright citrus flavours, and a mix of more green, grassy notes along with a certain minerality. Unlike the final years of Brora, Clynelish goes unpeated, leaving a smokeless whisky.
Founded
1967
Owner
Diageo
Production Status
Operational
Capacity
3,400,000 Litres
As demands for blended whisky rose during the whisky boom of the 1960s, DCL decided that it would be better to meet production demands by building a whole new distillery next door to what was then known as Clynelish, rather than trying to expand the original site. This second distillery is the Clynelish that exists today, producing whisky of the same name. Until 1975 the original distillery, that was founded in 1819, and the recently built extension distillery operated as Clynelish-A and Clynelish-B. Finally someone saw sense and created a law that two distilleries could not have the same (or very similar) names, and the original Clynelish was renamed 'Brora' after its hometown.
Clynelish bottles in our selection
We’ve got a nice range of Clynelish whisky, including these highlight drams:
Clynelish 14-Year-Old - This bottle is really excellent! It has rich brown sugar and candle wax on the nose with a creamy mouthfeel.
Clynelish 1995 28 Year Old Symingtons Choice #11250 - A very special Symington's Choice bottling of Clynelish distilled back in 1995 and bottled at cask strength!
Buy your bottles from whisky experts
Got your eye on a Clynelish bottle? Speak with us and if we don’t have it in stock right now, we’re always happy to help track it down for you. We love hunting for special bottles and sharing the best of Scotland’s distilleries with fellow whisky enthusiasts.
If you’re nearby, feel free to swing by one of our stores in Edinburgh or Pitlochry. Our team’s always up for a chat, and we’d love to help you explore our in-store selection.
If you like Clynelish whisky, you may also enjoy
Highland Whisky: Clynelish is known for its waxy texture and fruity notes, a distinctive feature of Highland whiskies.
Oban Whisky offers a richer flavour profile that fans of Clynelish whisky may appreciate.
Dalwhinnie Whisky features smooth, honeyed notes that align with Clynelish's character.