Clynelish
Full Highlands food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
Pair Clynelish with a round
Our sister site TripSCOT covers the visit side — opening hours, getting there, family-friendly notes. We cover the whisky.
One of Diageo’s most sought-after malts and long a whisky-geek favourite. The 14 Year Old is famous for its distinctive waxy, slightly oily texture that fans spend years chasing.
Clynelish is Diageo's most coveted malt and a genuine whisky connoisseur's favourite — the 14 Year Old has a distinctive waxy, slightly oily texture that makes it unlike anything else in the Highlands. Officially part of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve. The coastal setting in Sutherland, the unusual still design, and the wax-like character are unique. The Brora expression (from the original mothballed distillery next door) is now revived and among the most expensive new-make releases in Scotland.
Core range
14 Year Old
46% ABV · American oak refill
Famous for its waxy, oily texture — a deliberate effect of unwashed wash backs. The 14 is one of the great-value premium Highland malts.
- Nose:
- Waxy honey, citrus, soft oak, faint salt.
- Palate:
- Oily and rich — waxy mouthfeel, honey, citrus, faint smoke.
- Finish:
- Long, drying, faintly salty.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Year Old | Beeswax-polished hard cheese or comté | The waxy character echoes beeswax and aged cheese. |
| 14 Year Old | Langoustines | Coastal spirit with maritime shellfish — a natural pairing. |
Getting there
Car recommended. Brora on the A9, 2 hours north of Inverness.
Brora station is 4.4km away — a short taxi or bus ride from the platform. (Distance as the crow flies; actual walking route may differ.)
Brora station travel guide on TripSCOTWhere to eat nearby
- Royal Marine HotelHotel
Brora town centre — good food.
- Dornoch Castle HotelHotel
20 min south — excellent restaurant.
Where to stay near Clynelish
Clynelish is in Brora, a small east Sutherland coastal town on the A9. Brora has a classic links golf course and a handful of B&Bs. The Royal Marine Hotel is the best option in town. Golspie (3 miles south) and Dornoch (12 miles south) have more accommodation. The coastal drive north from Dornoch to Brora takes in Dunrobin Castle.
Brora town centre.
Exceptional destination hotel 20 min south.
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Clynelish.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Brora, Sutherland, KW9 6LR
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+What creates the waxy character?
The worm tub condensers (rather than shell-and-tube) retain more waxy, long-chain fatty acid compounds in the spirit. Only a handful of Scottish distilleries still use worm tubs.
+What is Brora?
The original Brora distillery next door was mothballed in 1983. Diageo reopened it in 2021 as a luxury operation producing tiny quantities at very high prices.
+Where is Clynelish distillery?
Clynelish is in north highland, in the Highlands. Postcode KW9.
+When was Clynelish distillery founded?
Clynelish was founded in 1967, making it roughly 59 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
The waxy texture is unique — no direct comparison. Closest coastal Highland character to Old Pulteney.
Other distilleries owned by Diageo
Distilleries that share Clynelish's corporate parent — useful context if you're comparing house styles within an owner's stable.
Lagavulin
Iconic Islay distillery on the southern shore, Lagavulin produces some of the most intensely peated, deeply maritime whisky in Scotland. The 16 Year Old is a benchmark Islay dram.
Oban
A tiny two-still distillery sitting right in the middle of the town it’s named after. Oban bridges Highland and West Coast island character — gently smoky, salty, fruity.
Cardhu
Founded by Helen Cumming and the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker, Cardhu is a smooth, easy, fruit-forward Speyside that punches well above its weight as a beginner single malt.
Cragganmore
One of Diageo’s six ‘Classic Malts’. Cragganmore is unusually complex for an entry-age Speyside thanks to its short, flat-topped stills and unique condensing setup.
Linkwood
A workhorse Diageo distillery whose spirit features in many blends but is rarely seen as an official single malt. A favourite of independent bottlers for its perfumed, floral character.
Mortlach
Known as ‘the Beast of Dufftown’ for its uniquely complex 2.81-times distillation regime. Big, meaty, sulphury, sherry-influenced — the polar opposite of typical ‘light Speyside’.
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