Auchentoshan 18 Year Old

This Review is dedicated to @Markjedi1 who recently helped me to obtain a sample of a spirit that he feels is worse than Lambertus. I’m not trying that tonight, but in appreciation I’ve pulled out a 50 cc miniature that I ordered from the Whisky Exchange in 2011 or 2012 when I used to have a friend who went over frequently and brought back stuff for me.

As far as I know, unless I tried it at Spirit of Toronto, this is my first Auchentoshan. This particular expression comes in a small cardboard box that states that it has been matured in ex-bourbon casks. It also acknowledges the addition of caramel “Mit Farbstoff zur gewährleistung einer einheitlichen farbgebung” which here means “To ensure uniform color”. Bottled at 43% I infer that it has been chill-filtered.

This expression is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of only a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting.

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Nose:

Neat – Fruity, with a vegetal note that overwhelms. This subsides after a few minutes leaving a very fruity nose. Some sweet apple, some cinnamon. Do I get juicy fruit gum? On pouring I would give the nose 18/25. Half an hour later it’s a 22/25.

With water – I get a light perfume, rose? The other smells are dampened.

Taste:

Neat – Thin, sweet, fruity. Some spices. Slight alcohol nip. 21/25

With water – Bitter, some sweet fruit, a little spice. A little effervescence. Time smoothes the bitterness a bit and I get sour citrus, a lemony note.

Finish: medium length, dry, astringent. Unremarkable. 21/25 Shorter with water.

Balance: Nose and palate complement each other. 21/25 Water throws off the balance. Too bitter. Time helps.

Score: 85 /100

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Not a bad first try. I did the review with 25-30 cc but I do like this and decided to add the rest of the mini to my glass for sipping the rest of the evening.

I was very impressed with the change in the nose over time. The idea of letting it sit 1 minute in the glass for every year in the cask really seems to apply to this one. I wish I had tasted it earlier to be able to make a comparison.

I probably wouldn’t buy a bottle of this for $100, but I would be interested in sampling other ‘toshans, especially some at higher ABV.

Cheers @Markjedi1 !

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