The first years of the distillery were never a success despite the changes in ownership status. In 1896 Ainsle & Heilbron along with John Risk would become the new owners and in 1912 Risk would take full ownership. In the meantime, the distillery’s reputation grew massively.

John Risk was always in contact with John Walker & Sons, so in 1925 when DCL was formed, Clynelish distillery was acquired as well.

In 1931 the distillery would be mothballed for almost 30 years as it resumed production in 1960. In 1967 a second distillery named “Clynelish” again, was built next to the distillery. The original distillery was mothballed for a year and in 1969 it was reopened and renamed as Brora, only to close again in 1983.

As a crucial part of John Walker & Sons blends, only a small part of the distillery’s production is used in single malt bottlings. The most known case is Clynelish 14 year old which was launched in 2002 while a distiller’s edition bottling is released as well.