By now even the casual whisky drinker will know of Auchentoshan's triple distillation. It's core expressions are usually affordable, in contrast to some brands.
What is certain is that in its OB format 'Toshan can be polarizing, it's a supple spirit that is often presented at anemic proofs and can be botoxed to excess by oak manipulation. This will be the first time I have an older version.
It's a mix of bourbon & sherry casks no specific vatting info.
Nose: Pastry dough, or let's make that cinnamon buns, apple, some guava. I get a good bit of the grain coming through, powdered sugar, a little latex. It's pretty delicate, with time develops some fruitiness, jujubes. A smidge of pineapple.
Palate: Milk chocolate, cashews, candlewax, raisins, I get a bit of sulfur, powdered ginger, lemon rind, there is a surprising amount if grip for 43%.
Finish: light, grassy barley, a little bit if fruits but it suffers the most here, it loosens it's hold fast, leaving little impression after you've swallowed.
There are some nice aspects to this whisky, I like the attack on the palate, where the grain notes are holding their own against the sherry. Sadly the texture is so limp that the finish fails on the promise. One of the better versions I've had but still good, not great.
@Robert99 Content de te revoir mon ami!
I feel Auchentoshan suffers the same fate as fellow stablemate Bowmore who's OB's often feel drained of vigor (there are exceptions) but when handled by IB's they tend to be delivered with more power and singularity.
@cricklewood I find Bowmores bimodal. The CS offerings like Tempest, Laimrig and Devil's Cask are excellent, and the anaemic (well, figuratively... all whiskies should literally be anaemic) 12, 15 and 18 are not worth choosing over sodastream (even if it IS owned by Pepsi now).
I haven't as much experience with Auchentoshan, but I wonder if this is a similar phenomenon.