Auchentoshan 18 Year Old

I'm not going to bore you by repeating that Auchentoshan is really my label, but let me just say that I'm very much looking forward to visiting the distillery come September.

After having tasted the Classic, Select, 10 Year Old, 12 Year Old, Three Wood and the rather elusive 1987 Sherry Butt, I wanted to give this last one in my cabinet (bar the 1988 Bordeaux Wine Finish that is locked up until Father's Day) a go. After the rather tough encounter with the 1987 Sherry Butt, this was again full confirmation that the Toshan's are truly my dram.

This expression is very oily and is glued to the glass with it's nice and round golden sheen. The tears come down after a good while, promising good things to come. It's like looking at the body of a shapely woman.

The nose is grand: fruity with honey, vanilla, almonds and a bit of tobacco leaves and green tea. After a while, add banana and a tad of spice (nutmeg). Wonderful.

The first sip is fresh, clean and flowery, with honey, ginger and sweet barley. Feisty and yet reserved. A lot less playful than the 12 Year Old (which remains my favorite). This one is truly a grown up lowland. Respect!

The finish is rather long with nuts, raisins and dry oak. This is pure enjoyment. It makes a man (or me at least) happy.

This is a nice, well balanced dram with a lot of character and a great example of good Lowland whisky in general and a grand Auchentoshan in particular. Unfortunately too expensive to replace the 12 Year Old as daily dram, though.

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