Auchentoshan 15 Year Old 1998 Pearls of Scotland Cask #102354

It was not even six months ago that I tried a botttle of Auchentoshan 1998 from Pearls of Scotland and lo and behold, today a sister cask is dropped on my desk. This one is bottled at 60,5% ABV, slightly less than the previous one, but still sturdy. I wonder at what strength this was put to sleep.

Ha! The nose is like a twin of the previous Pearls. It starts with a touch of sulphur that evaporates quickly and is then followed by marzipan, citrus, gooseberries, heather honey and barley sugar. A floral touch of both flowers and grasses. Something umami in the background, but it is gone before you realize you noticed it. Menthol. Jelly Beans. Diluted I get a touch of plasticine, which does not really work with this Toshan.

Powerful attack, piquant and spicy. But it turns sweet and soft and quite quaffable immediately without the addition of water. Now mostly citrus fruit and a bitter touch. Slowly but surely it becomes a bit dry. The sweetness lingers more and it takes longer for the bitterness to appear if you add some water.

Regarding the finish, we are quickly done. Sweet and dry but short. With water: ditto.

Good Toshan, but water is nefast for the nose. Still available left and right for around 100 EUR.

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