Auchentoshan 12 Year Old 1999 Bottle Your Own Cask 165

In the visitor centre of the Auchentoshan distillery, you can bottle your own from a cask that is put in place for that purpose. This bourbon cask #165 is long gone by now and replaced by two others. Nevertheless, being the Toshan Man, I must try this one as well, right?

Pretty creamy nose with loads of vanilla and crème brulée, mildly salted butter and lime peel. The oak has, even on this relatively young age, already put its stamp. Huge woodspice: ginger and liquorice. A bit zesty even, with some demerara sugar. The delicate nature of Auchentoshan shines through beautifully. Adding water turns it into something of a weird Toshan as it bring out, I kid you not, horseback. Loads of citrus and vanilla as well.

It is hot on the palate. Very hot indeed. And spicy. The crème brulée comes out first, followed immediately by lemon juice and a big helping of ginger. This needs water. Diluted it becomes a whole lot sweeter (icing sugar?) and more accessible. And very good!

Long, spicy and zesty: that is the finish in a nutshell.

Sturdy single cask whisky, that becomes much better with a few drops of water. Nice Toshan! Thanks, Jasper, for the sample so that I did not yet have to open my bottle.

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