Auchentoshan 15 Year Old 1981 Signatory

It took a bit of research to find out that Signatory Vintage bottled this Auchentoshan 1981 only in miniature bottles. Strange choice, no? Anyway, this Auchentoshan was distilled on 19th March 1981 (I was only 11 at the time and did not even own my first moped yet) and bottled 15 years later on 24th July 1996 (my firstborn daughter was only 9 weeks away). Just putting it in perspective for myself, mind you. Cask 1145 yielded no less than 1.950 bottles. Well, only 50ml bottles, surely. Doh!

Wonderfully fresh nose on a truckload of citrus. Lime and pink grapefruit in the lead, but lemon and oranges are certainly in the game. Lemon peel dipped in sugar. Heather honey. Reminds me a bit of Limoncello. And spring. That might be the grasses. Freshly cut, of course. A bit of straw and a surprising touch of camphor. Even some nettles. It works like a charm.

The arrival is mildly spicy, but quite punchy. I was not expecting this. Now I get vanilla and cider apples first. That was unexpected as well. Then the citrus returns. A touch of oak. Some green tea. Very fresh, accessible and pleasant.

Medium long, very clean finish. Perfect balance between wood and fruit.

I must confess that my expectations were quite low (although I could not tell you why), but what a pleasant surprise, especially on the nose. But what good does that do you? This bottle is nowhere to be found now, unless you visit the Edradour distillery, where I was able to purchase it. This is a dangerously quaffable aperitif whisky.

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