Auchentoshan The Bartender’s Malt 12 Year Old Saint Petersburg Edition

It is not an easy feat to find this edition of the Auchentoshan Bartender’s Malt, for it was only launched in Russia – a very import grow market for the brand – and is actually single sherry butt #134. That’s right, this 12 year old malt – the Saint Petersburg Edition – is a sister cask of PX sherry butt #135 that I bought at the distillery as a bottle your own and which I liked a whole lot! The only difference is the fact that this one was cut to 47%. The cask was selected by Russian bartender Kirill Ivashkov. It was a gift from Kit Yalta – brand ambassador from Moscow – when he visited me in October 2018. Nice details: I helped Kit land that job so many years ago. What goes around, comes around.

Dark and sweet nose on raisins and blood oranges, sugared lime, blackberry juice and wonderful, juicy honey. There is even a candy-like edge to it, as if from Haribo bears. Soft and accessible and it brings water to my mouth.

The arrival is very sweet, but it could have done with just a bit more body. Having said that: taste wise it’s good. Very good, in fact! Yes, it opens up nicely on the palate. Sweet fruit (again oranges in the lead, but joined by figs, prunes and gooseberries), lovely spices such as nutmeg and cloves, a hint of liquorice and ginger with a leaf of mint. This is versatile and deliciously quaffable.

The finish is spicy, sweet, warm and long. A bit of overripe melon at the death. I did not see that coming.

Outstanding Aauchentoshan at perfect drinking strength. I find it almost a shame that Kirill will be using this to make cocktails. It’s that good in itself. But a bartender of his class obviously knows what he’s doing. Very nice Auchentoshan with a good story and I’m glad I got two bottles of this via Kit. большое спасибо вам, Kit!

Find where to buy Auchentoshan whisky