Clynelish’s ultimate success is one which came out of human tragedy. This is one of the number of ‘Clearance’ distilleries (Talisker is another example) which appeared in the earlier part of the 19th century. This was a period when some landowners, seeing the profits which could be made from sheep farming, forcibly moved their tenant farmers from their ancestral lands. Caithness and Sutherland were the scenes of the most brutal of these clearances.
Clynelish had a strong connection with Johnnie Walker blended whisky for many years. Around 95% of the spirit is used in Johnnie Walker, most commonly found in the Gold Label Reserve. In 2019, a very special bottling of Clynelish was launched to celebrate the bicentenary (200 years) of Clynelish distillery. This whisky was matured in a combination of former bodega sherry European oak and refill American oak casks with an ABV of 57.3% and limited to only 1819 (the year it started) bottles.
Region: Highland
Area: Sutherland
Current Owner: Diageo
Founded : 1819
Founder : Marquis of Stafford
No. of wash stills: 3
No. of spirit stills: 3
Capacity (litres): 4,800,000.00
Website:
English