Clynelish is a name that carries weight in the scotch whisky world. Known for its waxy, maritime character, it has been a key player in Johnnie Walker blends and a favorite among single malt enthusiasts. But what if I told you that this bottle of Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie & Heilbron may not be from Clynelish—at least, not as we know it today?
This particular whisky is a relic from a time when things at the Clynelish Distillery were… complicated. To understand why, we need to delve into one of the most fascinating quirks of scotch whisky history—how the distillery we now call Brora once bore the Clynelish name. You can purchase this mythical whisky on The Whiskey Wash Shop for $1,349.
Two Distilleries, One Name
The Clynelish site is home to not one, but two distilleries. The original Clynelish Distillery was founded in 1819, producing whisky for over a century before its identity became entangled in an industry-wide expansion effort in the 1960s.
By the mid-20th century, demand for scotch whisky was booming. The Distillers Company Limited (DCL), which owned Clynelish, needed to increase production—but the old distillery, operating with just a single pair of stills, simply wasn’t big enough. So, DCL built an entirely new, modern distillery right next door.
In 1967, the new Clynelish Distillery fired up its stills, while the old distillery continued running under the same name. For a brief period—between August 1967 and August 1968—both distilleries were producing whisky simultaneously, known internally as Clynelish A (new) and Clynelish B (old).
But two distilleries with the same name caused a problem. The Scotch Whisky Association stepped in, and in 1969, the old distillery was renamed Brora. It was repurposed to produce a heavily peated whisky to help meet blending demand during a downturn in Islay production.
Brora continued distilling until 1983 during the dreaded Whisky Loch, when it was mothballed. Over the decades, its limited output, distinctive style, and cult following turned it into one of the most legendary “lost” distilleries in scotch whisky history.
In a historic twist, Brora reopened in 2021, and by 2024, its first new distillate came of age.
Why This Bottle Is Special
This Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie & Heilbron was bottled sometime in the 1970s, meaning the whisky inside was distilled no later than 1967. In fact, some batches of the 12 Year Old were bottled (at a higher ABV) at the request of Edoardo Giaccone in 1969, 1971, and 1973. If this whisky were bottled around the same time, it is safe to assume that the whiskey was distilled no later than 1961. And that’s where things get interesting.
This whisky likely didn’t come from the Clynelish we know today. Instead, it would have been distilled at the original Clynelish Distillery—the one that would soon be renamed Brora.
So, in reality, this bottle isn’t just a Clynelish—it’s an early Brora in disguise.
The whisky inside represents a piece of scotch whisky history that can never be repeated, offering a glimpse into what the original Clynelish was producing before the transition.
Ainslie & Heilbron – A Legacy Bottler
Beyond the liquid itself, this bottle is significant because of who bottled it.
Before the days of widespread official distillery bottlings, distilleries were often licensed to blending companies under the ownership of DCL. In this case, Ainslie & Heilbron—one of the firms responsible for Clynelish—handled its distribution.
The connection between Ainslie & Heilbron and Clynelish runs deep. James Ainslie & Co, one of the firms within the group, actually owned Clynelish until 1912, when it became part of DCL’s vast whisky empire. This bottling is a nod to that long-standing relationship and represents an era when independent blenders played a crucial role in shaping scotch whisky.
Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie & Heilbron – A Coveted Collector’s Item
Since Brora’s reopening in 2021, the appetite for historic Brora-related bottlings has only increased. Bottles like this are becoming rarer, and when they do surface, they don’t last long.
If you’re looking for a true piece of scotch whisky history, one that represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of two legendary distilleries, this Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie & Heilbron is an exceptional find.
