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Auchentoshan 1988 Bordeaux Wine Finish

Average score from 2 reviews and 3 ratings 86

Auchentoshan 1988 Bordeaux Wine Finish

Product details

  • Brand: Auchentoshan
  • Bottler: Douglas Laing
  • Series: Platinum Selection
  • ABV: 52.0%
  • Vintage: 1966
  • Bottled: 2002
  • Bottles: 559

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@galg
Auchentoshan 1988 Bordeaux Wine Finish

Another Toshan today, this time a very limited, and very unique one. This bottling was released in 2008 , as a duty free only edition (or distillery shop exclusive) , with an outrun of 1800 bottles only.Calling it a wine finish is really not so accurate, as it spent 8 years in ex-bourbon casks, and another 12 years!!! in Saint-Julien Bordeaux casks. So it’s more of a double maturation than a finish…

Bottled at 52,4% ABV and costing around 150 EUR at the time, I was very fortunate to have gotten this sample. Notes:

Lovely color on this whisky, and not surprising after a long wine cask maturation : Deep golden copper.

Nose : wine-y and tannins galore. With orange marmalade , ginger , almost meaty and a bit vinegary. Massive wine. Used Matches and moist soil.

Palate: spicy and very winey on the entry. Bouillon, sultanas and again that thick jam. Plums and prunes. Pepper cinnamon and butter wood.

Finish : pepper, fortified wine and spices. Sprinkle a bit if cocoa powder.

A very rewarding dram, that can benefit from a bit of water, but can also be drunk neat, and savored. A great after dinner dram, for the wee hours.

I've looked at a couple of wine finishes (although as you say this isn't really a finish!) but I'm cautious about spending big money on a high-end bottle like this in case I don't like it. Do you know of any entry-level wine finishes that are nice?

@markjedi if you're serious that would be the most awesome offer! As I'm relatively new to the site I don't know how to PM - do we have to be linked as buddies first? If so, buddy request is on the way!

@markjedi1

In 2008, Auchentoshan released this limited edition of 1.800 bottles for the duty free range – it is available at the distillery shop (online) as well. I paid 150 EUR for it, shipping included.

The Auchentoshan 1988 Bordeaux Wine Finish matured on bourbon casks for 8 years and another 12 years on Saint-Julien Bordeaux casks. One can hardly call this a wine finish. I would say it is a double matured Lowlander.

I got this bottle for Father’s Day from Dearly Beloved and had it sitting on the shelf for 5 months. Since patience is a Jedi trait, I had no problem with it. Today I finally got to taste it… and I took my time.

The color is very special: a deep gold tangerine. It’s very oily and created wonderfully big fat tears in the glass.

On the nose I discovered overripe mandarin and dried fruits, submerged in caramel and some roasted nuts (almonds and hazelnut). The whole is very sweet, covered in dark demerara sugar. The wine is present, obviously, but – thank the Maker, I was a bit afraid, I’ll admit – not oppressively much. The Bordeaux makes the nose on this Toshan very sweet indeed, but not winey. After adding a few drops of water (which this Toshan can certainly cope with), it remains sweet, even adding a little bit of marshmallow.

On the palate, this is very creamy, almost buttery. Again the sweet fruit is there, but soon to be overpowered by dry, spicy oak. Adding a bit of water will allow you to discern the different fruity tones as well as some vanilla – but also something sour like pineapple. But it is silky smooth and wonderful.

The finish is fruity with chocolate, but still rather spicy. I would have liked it a bit longer though. Adding water makes the finish shorter and allows the vinous character to reveal itself.

This is not the first wine finished expression from Auchentoshan. This 1988 Bordeaux Wine Finish is the successor to the 17 Year Old Bordeaux Wine Finish (8 years on bourbon, 9 years on Bordeaux) of which 3.600 bottles were created. I have not yet opened mine (and don’t have any immediate plans to). And then there is also the Auchentoshan 1991 Montrose Wine Finish from Malts of Scotland – but since that one is not getting any rave reviews, I have not yet tried that one either.

82/100

This bottle just got better and better, so much better with no water if you can drink it like that..... the nose is just fantastic in my opinion......mmmmmmmmm

@sorren: I agree! Ah, so you are an Auchentoshan fan too, I see on your profile. Like it or not, you've just become a friend :)

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