There are few Highland distilleries that inspire such poetic praise as Clynelish. For decades, it has produced a style of single malt that whisky lovers find instantly recognizable. Oily, waxy, citric, and somehow coastal all at once, Clynelish is the whisky that shows what the northern Highlands can do when a distillery sticks to its craft. The 1998 Clynelish 17 Year Manager’s Dram Single Malt Scotch Whisky might be one of the best examples of what makes this distillery so admired by collectors and curious drinkers alike.
Clynelish and Its Famous Neighbour
Set above the small village of Brora in East Sutherland, Clynelish sits beside its now-silent older sibling, Brora Distillery. Brora’s cult status is well earned, but the newer Clynelish, which started operations in 1967, has carved its own legend. Most of its malt goes into Johnnie Walker blends, giving those bottles that subtle waxy texture that fans quietly chase. When it appears as a single malt, especially in rare cask-strength releases like the Manager’s Dram, whisky fans pay attention.
The Manager’s Dram Tradition
The Manager’s Dram is not an ordinary bottle. It is the result of distillery managers under the Scottish Malt Distillers and later United Distillers choosing casks just for themselves and fellow staff. No press release. No marketing campaign. Just the best casks, bottled at full natural strength. These whiskies were perks, handed out to insiders, never meant for public sale. Over the years, the few that have trickled out into auctions have become prized for exactly this raw, honest window into what makes each distillery shine.
Details of This Rare Clynelish
Distilled in 1981 and bottled on November 23rd, 1998, this Clynelish spent 17 years resting in a sherry cask before being bottled at a bold 123.6 proof. Made from 100% malted barley, it captures that classic Highland texture but adds layers of depth through the rich cask and the untamed proof. This is not the polished supermarket expression. This is Clynelish for the managers, by the managers.
What Does It Smell Like?
Nick Anderson, tasting this dram in Gregory Cloyd’s garden, described the nose as pure poetry. Raspberry parfait, dusty oak, black pepper, wild heather, and fresh tall grass greet you right away. It’s an aroma that makes you lean in and linger. Nick even found a note that threw him back to pulling an unfiltered Lucky Strike out of a German vending machine years ago. This glass makes memories come alive. As it settles, honey-buttered rolls and warm allspice show up, proving that time in the glass only makes this whisky more layered.
Jes Smyth agreed. To her, it was “honey butter goodness” that deserved Mariah Carey high notes. Between the sweet fruit, the delicate thread of smoke, and a playful sea salt spark, the nose alone could keep you busy for an hour before you even think about tasting.
How Does It Taste?
The palate matches the nose in pure pleasure. Nick called the first sip “liquid perfection,” full of heather, lavender, honey butter, sweet honeysuckle, and crème brûlée. By the last sip, he was convinced it was “sex and rock & roll” in a glass.
Jes felt the same. She described it as creamy honey draped over freshly baked sweet rolls. The sip made her lean back, close her eyes, and disappear for a moment from the chatter around the table. That’s what a great whisky should do. It should pause time and let you sink into the flavors. Clynelish at its best does exactly this.
Why This Clynelish Stands Out
The Clynelish 17 Year Manager’s Dram is a reminder that great whisky doesn’t need to be loud about its pedigree. While Clynelish’s waxy style often gets blended away, here it stands on its own, boosted by a sherry cask that enriches without smothering. The high proof keeps it alive in the glass, letting you nose it for ages or dive right into its buttery depths.
Most official Clynelish releases hover around 14 years, bottled at lower strength, often ex-bourbon cask driven. Those are lovely. But this Manager’s Dram shows how the distillery can transform under different conditions. That oily waxiness, the sweet Highland honey, the coastal lift, and the gentle spice all build layer by layer when left untouched by chill-filtration or aggressive dilution.
Should You Hunt It Down?
If you see this bottle at auction, be prepared for a fight. Few bottles from The Manager’s Dram series escape the hands of people who know exactly what they have. The Clynelish 17 Year stands among the best. Not just because it’s rare, but because it shows why Clynelish holds a special corner in many collectors’ hearts.
It’s proof that sometimes the best whisky is the one the managers kept for themselves. No fancy marketing. No global release. Just one sherry cask, bottled by people who knew exactly what they wanted in a dram.
Final Sip on Clynelish 17 Manager’s Dram
Tasting this whisky is like reading a poem. One sip carries honey butter sweetness, the next a salty breeze, the next a soft wildflower bloom. There’s no rush to finish it. If you ever get the chance to pour this dram, sit down, breathe deep, and let the waxy Highland magic remind you what a rare single malt can be when left to shine on its own.
For lovers of Highland malt, for believers in the old ways, and for those who think whisky can be more than a drink, the 1998 Clynelish 17 Year Manager’s Dram is proof enough.
