Clynelish 18 Years ‘Waxen Sun’ (51.6%, OB, Diageo Special Releases 2025)

Matured in refill casks, with an inclusion of spirit from Clynelish’s distillation cut point experiments

Nose: A tad shy but very crisp and clean. Soft mineral notes with hints of wet pebbles and even some ozone. Touches of Madeira cake and lemon drizzle, but not so sure about the promised tropical fruits. Hints of honeydew and grapes, but certainly not a vibrant fruit salad.
Taste: Decent waxiness with a minor pinch of white pepper, also a sliver of apricots and maybe some pineapple, but you have to be searching for it and it’s certainly not very juicy. Whispers of chalk too. Anyway, it’s delicious enough.
Finish: Medium length. Mineral notes, warm spices and a touch of quince.