Clynelish 18yo (Waxen Sun, Special Releases 2025)

Clynelish 18yo (Waxen Sun, Special Releases 2025)

Region: Highlands

ABV: 51.6%

Price: £175.00 

Matured for at least 18 years in refill casks, this Special Releases edition incorporates spirit from an experimental early distillation cut known as the Pineapple Cut. No official outturn stated. 

Nose

The nose opens with soft vanilla notes, lemon balm, tangerine segments, simple syrup and and some crushed digestive biscuits in the background. There's a slight earthen, Highland dunnage character here, we're hesitant to say candle wax but there is something a bit weighty coming from the spirit. The alcohol is in balance although a little punchier than the 51.6% would have led us to believe. Going back, we're finding chalkier notes, tinned pineapple rings and melon balls. It's a pleasant, inviting nose, a nice mix of older spirit character with citric and tropical fruits alongside soft vanilla sweetness.

Palate

The palate opens with a richer character, much more oak character, however in a creamy, biscuity, milk chocolate-led manner. We're finding lots of tinned pineapple and peach, lots of sweet syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice and a bit of white pepper spice as the palate develops. Again, the alcohol is punchier than we expected, although it works in a way with the weightier character of the spirit. Time and air brings out more fresh apple slices, lime zest, fudge cubes and more cooking chocolate flavours. The mouthfeel is good, with a caramel syrup-like texture, and the finish has a medium length with a touch of lightly roasted coffee, a bit of clove spice and more crushed peppercorns.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose softens the alcohol spice, but in turn reduces the fullness of the whisky for us. It still maintains the topicality, pineapple, a little mango, some earthen notes alongside soft vanillas and simple sugars. We preferred the unreduced nose.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate bursts open with sweetened orange juice, tinned pineapple, cooking chocolate segments, a little fudge, vanilla wafers and a dash of lime cordial. Again, water has softened some of the alcohol but at the expense of the mouthfeel and spirit weight. It's still good with water, but we'd rather drink the natural strength version.

Conclusion

We were skeptical coming into this - we've had varying experiences with the Diageo Special Releases over the years and thought this might be a bit of a letdown, however we're pleasantly surprised. It's flavourful, full bodied, with a lovely tropicality and soft cask influence that lets the Clynelish spirit shine through. Our gripes come with the alcohol - it gets knocked slightly off balance but there is enough flavour and aroma to tackle this. Actually quite good, darn.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Like most of the Diageo Special Releases, this feels overpriced. With a little patience, it will likely see a price cut at some point.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

If you like what you’ve read then check out our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to get notifications of when we post a new review or just to chat about whisky with us.