Auchentoshan Special One-Off by Fred Laing

On Friday 14th February 2014 we visited Jan Beckers in the Douglas Laing HQ in Glasgow. We were very pleasantly surprised when halfway through our visit none other than Fred Laing himself dropped by to make our acquaintance. And he had a special gift for the Toshan Man. What an honor! The card around the bottle read: 'A special one-off Auchentoshan at cask strength created for Mark by Fred!' At first I did not want to open it, but when Fred asked me how I liked his creation, I felt obliged to honor his work and taste it. And I have no regrets!

Nice vanilla, lemongrass and coconut on the nose of this unique sample. I have no idea about the ABV, Fred did not mention it. Grain cookies too. And something like mandarin from a tin. Gooseberries in the distance.

It prickles the tongue and is quite oily. Almost syrupy, in fact. Wonderfully sweet, which is how I like my Toshan. Citrus, but also Poire William (the fruit, not the drink) and even some English marmalade, mildly bitter oranges. Coconut shavings. Liquorice and white pepper.

I would not have minded it the finish had been a tad longer, but it certainly does not disappoint.

A very nice and utterly unique Auchentoshan that I will cherish.

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