The Single Malts of Scotland, 10 Years Old Clynelish Reserve Casks Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Single Malts of Scotland Clynelish 10 Year Old Reserve Casks Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from Clynelish Distillery in Brora, Sutherland, one of the most northerly working distilleries in the Scottish Highlands. This independent bottling is drawn from reserve casks and bottled at cask strength 57.5% ABV, nearly fifteen points higher than the distillery's standard 46% release, which amplifies the coastal waxy character that defines Clynelish. The ten-year age statement strikes the balance between youthful fruit and nascent complexity, capturing the house style before extended maturation smooths the edges. In Chicago's landscape of independent bottlings, this expression offers uncut access to one of the Highland's most consistent producers. Clynelish Distillery was built in 1967 adjacent to the original Clynelish (later renamed Brora) to meet growing demand for blending stock, though its single malt quickly earned a reputation that transcended its utilitarian purpose. The distillery sits less than a mile from the North Sea, and that proximity informs the spirit—coastal air, not peat smoke, gives the whisky its signature maritime salinity. Clynelish uses a long fermentation in wooden washbacks and lantern-style stills with a pronounced boil to encourage copper contact, producing a waxy, fruity new-make that matures into honeyed, spiced malt with a distinctive oily mouthfeel. The Single Malts of Scotland is an independent bottler under the Elixir Distillers umbrella, selecting casks that showcase distillery character without chill filtration or added color. At full strength, expect tropical fruit—green mango, beeswax, and lemon curd—layered over barley sugar and a faint mineral salinity that reads as wet stone or oyster shell. A few drops of water open vanilla, white pepper, and a resinous pine note that some tasters describe as furniture polish in the most complimentary sense. The finish is long, warm, and drying, with lingering black pepper and citrus pith. This is a whisky for sipping neat after dinner or pairing with aged Gruyère and honeycomb, though its proof makes it robust enough to anchor a stirred cocktail if you want to stretch a high-ABV single malt into two servings. The texture is what sets Clynelish apart—thick, almost oily, coating the palate in a way few Highland malts manage without peat or sherry cask influence. Available for pickup at our Lincoln Park bottle shop at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.