| |
Home
Thousands of tastings,
all the music,
all the rambligs
and all the fun
(hopefully!)
Whiskyfun.com
Guaranteed ad-free
copyright 2002-2023
|
 |
|
| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
| |
|
| |
| |
August 17, 2023 |
|
  |
|
WF's Summer Duets
Today Auchentoshan
ex-bourbon |
Both bearing proper age statements and not the slightest mention of any various and diverse types of wood that would lead one to believe that we are in the workshop of a kind-hearted carpenter. Phew. |
|
Auchentoshan 18 yo (43%, OB, +/-2023) 
One of the brand's mottos is 'Challenging to say, easy to drink'. This 18 is fully ex-bourbon and to the question 'What gives whisky its colour?' their official website answers, 'Our careful and methodical maturing process over the course of 18 years' but it is indeed c*r*m*l*s*d (mit Farbstoff on German bottles). Having said that, we rather liked little Auchentoshan 18 last time we tried it, in 2017 (WF 82). Colour: gold. Nose: it's pretty dry and leafy, not that easy, with first some oak shavings and sawdust, and only then gummy bears and marshmallows, rooibos tea… But it remains drier than before and even a notch metallic (old tin box). Mouth: again, a little leafy and drying at first, then on cider apples, peel, allspice, ginger, turmeric… The distillate doesn't seem to have much to say, we're pretty far from the distillery's older expression, not to mention the fantastic sherried ones that they used to have… like twenty-five years ago. Remember those very singular diamond-shaped labels that used to set them apart? Finish: a little short, but better, fruitier, with some oranges. But the aftertaste remained rather leafy and tea-ish, a little bitter. Comments: I believe the indies are having the better ones these days, let's check that…
SGP:451 - 80 points. |
|
Auchentoshan 24 yo 1998/2022 (54%, Asta Morris, Heritage, bourbon cask, cask #AM166, 164 bottles) 
Colour: straw. Nose: its full of muesli, with bits of mangos, clementines and oranges inside. That's something that works, while it would then become very floral, with some ylang-ylang, roses, honeysuckle and wisteria. Auchentoshan as in Auchentoshan, I would say. With water: a rather perfect oranges and custard combo. Mouth (neat): a very unusual perfumy arrival, pretty hot. Bergamot and orange blossom water. Something by Dior, perhaps? (at random)… Then peach peal and patchouli. With water: there, Juicy Fruit and all-vitamin juice, fresh peach pulp, Bellini… And even a little mango sherbet, which I also find very Auchentoshan. Finish: medium, a little leafier, more peely… Cherry stem tea. Comments: very good and true to the distillate; this is where an official 18 should be in my book.
SGP: 651 - 89 points. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
