Contents
The Clynelish distillery is located on the east coast of Scotland and belongs to the largest international holding Diageo. The distillery produces whiskey, which is used as one of the main elements of the Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve blend. The most famous product is the 14-year-old Clynelish, which has a characteristic “waxy” taste of the brand with citrus, honey, vanilla and peat tones. The Distillers Edition line is aged in Oloroso sherry casks, which brings fruity notes to the bouquet.
Historical information
The Clynelish distillery in Brora was built in 1819 by the Duke of Sutherland. He founded many enterprises in the area, including a coal mine, brick and glass production, salt and distillery. The factories were staffed by local farmers who received not money, but special coins for purchases in the company’s stores. Thus, all profits settled in the pockets of the owner.
The production of the distillery in the early years of its existence was not very successful. The brand became famous after 1869, already under the new owners – Ainslie & Heilbron and John Risk, who worked closely with John Walker & Sons, which began to use Clynelish products in their blends. Subsequently, the plant became part of the DCL company, later transformed into Diageo.
In 1968, a new modern facility was built next to the old distillery building. The number of stills increased from two to six, resulting in a significant increase in production volumes. The old distillery was named Brora and operated until the early 80’s, producing heavily peaty whiskey for blends. In 2014, Diageo announced another upgrade and temporary closure of Clynelish, but then these plans were put on hold indefinitely.
Production features
Water for the plant comes from the Clynemilton Burn, which flows through areas rich in natural minerals. There are ten fermentation tanks installed in the workshops – eight from Oregon pine and two from stainless steel. Fermentation takes at least 55 hours, during which time the must acquires fruity shades characteristic of the brand’s products. Distillation takes place in copper stills, the largest are designed for 19 thousand liters of raw materials. The company does not have the opportunity to store whiskey on its territory, so most of the products are aged in the central warehouses of Diageo.
Awards:
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2006-2009 – double gold;
- The Spirits Business, 2009-2010 – gold medal;
- International Spirits Challenge, 2009-2010 – silver medal;
- International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2015 – gold medal, victory in the nomination “Best in Class”.
Interesting Facts
- Due to the drop in demand for alcohol during Prohibition in the United States, the Clynelish distillery was mothballed for a long time and did not work from 1931 to 1960.
- The company planned to invest a significant amount of £ 30 million in renewal and expansion of the enterprise, but as a result was limited to a ten-month break in work for equipment maintenance.
Feature Clynelish 14 Years Old, 46%
A classic whiskey from the Scottish Highlands coastal region has been produced since 2004. The color is bright golden, saturated. The fragrance combines the smells of flowers and a burning wax candle. The taste is creamy, with many nuances: at the start, marine shades predominate, mixed with hints of honey and citrus, which then turn into smoky and spicy tones. Pairs with mussels, oysters and fresh salmon dishes.
