Clynelish Special Release 2015 Limited Edition Cask Strength 750ML

Clynelish Special Release 2015 Limited Edition Cask Strength 750ML is a 15-year-old cask strength Highland single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 56.1% ABV (112.2 proof). Limited to just 2,946 bottles worldwide, this annual Special Release expression amplifies the distillery's signature waxy texture with concentrated citrus, toffee, and spice character drawn from a multi-cask vatting of American and European oak.

Quick Facts: ABV: 56.1%  |  Origin: Highlands, Scotland  |  Age: Minimum 15 Years  |  Distillery: Clynelish  |  Limited: 2,946 Bottles

Production & Heritage

Clynelish distillery sits near Brora in Sutherland, one of the most northerly mainland Highland distilling sites. The distillery employs extended fermentation cycles averaging roughly 85 hours — considerably longer than the 55-hour standard at many Scotch distilleries — which cultivates the wax-building fatty acids and layered esters that define the house style. Distillers deliberately retain oils in the feints receiver that most operations would strip out during cleaning, as removing them causes the waxy character to vanish entirely. This 2015 release was matured in a combination of first-fill American oak barrels, rejuvenated and refill American oak hogsheads, and bodega and refill European oak butts, using un-peated malted barley sourced from the Black Isle. The result is a cask strength expression that concentrates every nuance of the Clynelish profile without chill-filtration dilution.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A complex, perfumed opening of scorched grass gives way to vanilla fudge and freshly peeled orange. Beneath the initial fruit, green apple and lemon zest emerge alongside gentle floral wax.

Taste: The entry is rich and immediately waxy — the classic Clynelish hallmark — before toffee, ripe orange, and peach flood the mid-palate. Digestive biscuit sweetness and cinnamon build toward a peppery peak, with grapefruit and creamy malt adding dimension. At full cask strength, the mouthfeel is notably oily and coating.

Finish: Long and creamy, with chocolate-coated orange candy and warming ginger lingering well after each sip. A subtle beeswax thread ties the finish back to the nose, making for a remarkably cohesive dram.

How to Drink Clynelish 2015

At 56.1% ABV, this whisky rewards patient exploration neat, starting at full strength before adding a few drops of water to unlock the perfumed citrus and wax layers. A single large ice cube also works well to gradually open the expression. For cocktails, the concentrated waxy profile brings unusual depth to three classics: a Rob Roy, where the toffee and orange notes pair naturally with sweet vermouth; a Penicillin, where the citrus intensity holds its own against honey-ginger syrup and smoky float; and a Blood and Sand, where the orange and spice character integrates seamlessly with cherry and vermouth components.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Highland single malt collector — the 2,946-bottle limitation adds genuine rarity
• Side-by-side tasting against Clynelish 14 Year Old to explore cask strength versus standard strength from the same distillery
• Anniversary or milestone celebrations deserving of an irreplaceable bottle
• Experienced whisky drinkers seeking the definitive expression of Clynelish's waxy house character

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Clynelish 2015 taste like? The dominant profile is a rich, waxy mouthfeel layered with toffee, ripe orange, peach, and cinnamon, finishing long with chocolate-orange candy and ginger warmth. The cask strength bottling intensifies every element compared to the distillery's standard expressions.

How does Clynelish 2015 compare to Clynelish 14 Year Old? The standard Clynelish 14 is bottled at 46% ABV and delivers the house waxiness in a more approachable, lighter frame. The 2015 Special Release amplifies that character significantly at 56.1% cask strength with an additional year of age and a more complex multi-cask maturation involving both American and European oak.

Is Clynelish 2015 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — cask strength Highland malts of this quality are designed to be explored neat, ideally with a few drops of water added gradually to observe how the aroma and palate evolve at different dilution points.

Where is Clynelish 2015 made? Clynelish 2015 is distilled at the Clynelish distillery near the town of Brora in Sutherland, within the Northern Highlands of Scotland. The malted barley used in production is sourced from the Black Isle, a fertile peninsula north of Inverness.

What foods pair well with Clynelish 2015? Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese complements the waxy, toffee notes; dark chocolate truffles with orange zest mirror the finish; smoked salmon works with the oily mouthfeel and citrus brightness; roasted duck breast echoes the rich, savory mid-palate; and ginger-spiced shortbread aligns with the warming spice on the finish.

What sizes does Clynelish 2015 come in? This Special Release was issued as a 750ml bottle for the North American market, which is the standard available format for this limited edition.

Is Clynelish 2015 worth the price? Clynelish 2015 positions as an ultra-premium, limited-edition single malt — one of only 2,946 bottles produced. Its cask strength, 15-year age statement, and discontinued availability place it in collectible territory where value appreciates over time rather than depreciates.

Why Clynelish 2015?

What separates Clynelish from virtually every other Highland distillery is its waxy, oily texture — a direct result of deliberate production choices that most distillers would consider unorthodox, including the retention of oils in the feints receiver and fermentation cycles roughly 55% longer than industry norms. The 2015 Special Release takes that already distinctive character and presents it at maximum intensity through cask strength bottling and a thoughtful maturation program spanning American and European oak. With only 2,946 bottles ever produced and no possibility of replication, this expression represents a fixed moment in the distillery's output — one that scored 88 points on Wine-Searcher and continues to be sought after by collectors who recognize Clynelish as one of Scotch whisky's most underrated distilleries.