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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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July 12, 2024 |
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A couple Auchentoshans
When I think of a summer malt, I think of Auchentoshan. This was especially true when the malts were purer, sometimes also enhanced by wonderful sherries. Nowadays, it’s less so, as most are boosted by strange wine casks. But they are not the only ones... |
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Auchentoshan ‘Sauvignon Blanc Finish’ (47%, OB, +/-2024) 
This baby proudly proclaims itself as ‘vibrant and fresh’, which is exactly what we’d expect from a proper Auchentoshan. That’s why I find the idea of adding Sauvignon Blanc rather disheartening, especially without even knowing the region of the Sauvignon Blanc that’s been used—perhaps it's English? Auchentoshan is a lovely malt; does it really need such tinkering? Colour: straw. Nose: lemonade, honeysuckle, elderflower, limoncello, and mandarins. Of course, it's well-made, but what's the point behind this? It almost smells like a Hugo spritz. Heaven help us! Mouth: here we get a bit closer to the Auchentoshan character, and yes, it's pleasant enough, slightly earthier with notes of sage, parsley, watercress, and especially elderflower. Rest assured; we won't be quoting Monty Python again. Finish: medium length with a fresh, herbaceous, and lemony zest. A hint of fennel in the aftertaste. Comments: the worst part is, it's not even bad at all (really?) But essentially, these are almost cocktails where prosecco has been replaced with young malt whisky. It's quite clever... and not bad at all (I insist), though it might land you in a drunk tank. Then in front of a judge.
SGP: 740 - 79 points. |
Well then, on to the real stuff… |
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Auchentoshan 2000/2020 (51.5%, Malts of Scotland, refill sherry hogshead, Cask #MOS 20023, 283 bottles) 
Colour: Gold. Nose: quite complex, as expected, with touches of copper, coins, a hint of polish, then yellow peaches, cherries (kirsch), a wee bit of varnish, damp wood (old stump), canned pineapple juice... It’s really quite intricate. With water: scented candles! Rose, orange blossom… Mouth (neat): very good, with the typical citrusy side, but also a certain creaminess, honey, maple syrup, peach cream… That famous Irish side from triple distillation, very pronounced here. With water: it becomes a bit sweet again, particularly with fruit creams, especially peach, but it remains very clean. Finish: medium length, a bit syrupy, but that’s inherent to these drams. Comments: I appreciate it a lot, this one could also lead you to a night in the cells and a date with the judge, but at least that would have been worth it.
SGP:651 - 88 points. |
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