
May 8, 2026

The Time Warp Sessions,
today two Auchentoshan thirty years apart

Today we are, so to speak, going to compare two Auchentoshans distilled roughly thirty years apart, beginning with the older one: an official 43% bottling with an excellent reputation, which we have never yet tasted.

Auchentoshan 18 yo (43%, OB, Soffiantino, 75cl, +/-1990)

These were still the old rectangular bottles, long before the round ones with the kind of diamond-shaped labels. Colour: deep gold. Nose: these older Auchentoshans used to be fatter, deeper, almost more phenolic than more recent distillates, though you’ll tell me that’s true of many old malts. Lovely wafts of pistachio liqueur, bitter almond, but also school glue and orgeat, then come rather old-fashioned notes of fir bud liqueur, even a touch of ancient Chartreuse. That said, there’s very little fruitiness and it really wouldn’t come across as a triple-distilled malt. No doubt the thirty-five years spent in bottle have played some part in this curious transformation. Mouth: some highly amusing touches of rum to start with, rather in the style of Foursquare. Perhaps triple distillation creates an effect somewhat akin to a blend of column and pot still? Well well well… Even the citrus fruits that slowly join the party recall those rums, before a few metallic notes begin to emerge. Let’s say the aromatic precision may no longer be entirely intact after all these years. Finish: fairly long, rather oily, though more herbal and somewhat more disorderly than one would expect from Auchentoshan. A little salted butter caramel in the aftertaste. Comments: we can well imagine this lovely bottle’s glory days are already quite far behind it, yet it still retains plenty of charm.
SGP:351 - 80 points.

This should be a piece of cake for the next dram, we imagine…

Auchentoshan 26 yo 1999/2025 (50.6%, The Whisky Agency, for East Village, Birthday United, barrel)

These 1999s are generally excellent, nothing whatsoever to worry about… Colour: gold. Nose: the expected fruity explosion, oranges, mangoes, guava, then honey, cane syrup, and a little bitterness. Altogether this takes us straight towards a rather splendid negroni-like cocktail. With water: mango, passion fruits and a touch of peppermint. Mouth (neat): no negroni on the palate, although… surely some Campari and orange. It’s genuinely lovely and we can almost picture ourselves sipping it ice-cold this summer, beneath the parasols, in very fine company. But hush, don’t tell The Whisky Agency. With water: a citrus fruit salad, pink grapefruits, oranges, mandarins… The whole thing displays a remarkably pure, zesty sharpness. Finish: along the very same lines, even the aftertaste doesn’t shift by an inch, save perhaps for a few touches of vanilla and camomile. And a little sweet yet acidic wine, say a Jurançon. Comments: absolutely excellent, with tremendous cheerfulness about it, I can hardly wait for summer.
SGP:651 - 89 points.

Check the index of all Auchentoshan we've tasted

The Time Warp Sessions, today two Auchentoshan thirty years apart

The Time Warp Sessions,
today two Auchentoshan thirty years apart