Auchentoshan 18 Year Old 2003 SMWS 5.78 Wonder Wheel Ride

At the whisky festival in Ghent, my good friend Chris Lauriers stood behind the table of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. He beckoned me closer and said, ‘I have something for you’. I saw the number 5.78 on the label and knew immediately that I had to taste it. After all, number 5 means Auchentoshan. It's already the 78th single cask bottled by the SMWS of my favorite Lowlander. In this case an 18 years old from 2003 matured on a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel bottled at no less than 54.9%. Wow!

Delicious sweet nose on apricots, honey and sandal wood. Floral touches that seem fairly exotic. Quite a few esters! Waxy! This is a fruit bomb. And Auchentoshan's DNA is unmistakable. I am already in seventh heaven.

On the palate it is also very good. And it doesn't need any water at all. The honey and apricots return, supplemented with apple juice and grapefruit. Something of cinnamon and camphor. Even some marzipan and lemon sorbet. Toffee apples and cotton candy. Banana cream in white chocolate. Boy, oh, boy, this is delicious.

Wonderfully long finish, a bit spicy but above all very sweet and pleasant.

Summer in your glass! And to think that the bottle is still available... Who is a member and wants to buy one for me? I will be eternally (well, fairly long) grateful to you.

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