Auchentoshan 18 Year

It's 2020. December. Let's conclude this year with a new whiskey (or whisky) daily. This is my personal whiskey advent calendar. +6! Dec. 18, 2020 I acquired this whiskey to complete my scotch selection. I needed a lowlands scotch, was considering anything aged 18 years, and the whisky specialist highly recommended this one. Looking back, those aren't great reasons to gamble on a $170 whisky, but here we are. Nose: seawater, taffy, faint apple. Body: creamy texture, with notes of cheddar cheese and fresh dough. Finish: an incredibly pleasant spicy finish. I detect jalapeño, more cheddar, and some pepper. I've just realized the core theme of this drink is a grilled cheese sandwich. And I don't dislike it... I just don't fully grasp it. When I mix this with Octomore, it reminds me of a Philly cheesesteak. —— So that was day 1. Here is day 2: Nose unchanged. Body is now sweet. The primary flavor I perceive is Red Delicious apples. Also sugar, possibly some watermelon. Finish is black pepper, and there's an amazing undulating sensation on the lips. I truly love the feel of the finish. I'm also detecting a hint of peat now. —— I've never encountered a drink quite like this before. I feel like I keep saying that, but it's true again here. I enjoy it, and it's genuinely intriguing. Tonight I'm describing this drink as sweet with a spicy finish, but last night I was convinced it was savory. I don't understand how that happens, unless it's a neck-pour effect. I'm now struggling to recall that profile I was so sure of 24 hours ago. Regardless, I'm pleased I took a chance on this distillery whose name I find difficult to pronounce. I'm eager to discover what the rest of this bottle holds. Note: adding a splash of water further enhances the sweet notes. 'Tis the season. My whiskey choices are day-to-day, so if you're reading this and want me to enjoy/endure something readily available this holiday season, leave your suggestions in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!

Review #032 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: aged 18 years, matured in ex-bourbon casks Tasted after: Auchentoshan Three Wood Appearance (no score): Auburn hue. Was unable to observe legs due to what seemed like a water-repellent coating on the tasting glass. Nose: 16/20 Very subtle, nearly delicate. Apples and vanilla are the only faint scents I can detect. Despite this, it strikes me as simultaneously sweet, bright, and musty. Palate: 34/50 Again, everything is very understated. Vanilla is clearly dominant, but there's also cinnamon, milk chocolate, and almonds present. Finish: 31/40 Medium length. It's very smooth with minimal to no burn. Black pepper and charred wood give way to oak tannins, leaving a bitter aftertaste. With Water: Adding a drop or two of water didn't produce any noticeable differences. Total: 81/100 Final thoughts: Another whisky that's easy to sip, but it's not particularly remarkable. I might suggest it to someone new to scotch, especially if they enjoy bourbon or are new to whisky in general. The bottle featured in the photo is missing the top half of its front label – it wasn't there when I unpacked it at home – so that's a reminder to always inspect the bottle thoroughly before leaving the store. Price: $115 Would recommend: perhaps Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

I had a semi-formal meal with companions today, happening to be at the largest whiskey establishment in Richmond, Va. It's named Big Whiskey Grill and it boasts one of the area's finest bourbon and scotch selections. However, it's also rather pricey, with even common scotches carrying a steep cost. I resolved to keep my expenditure as reasonable as possible while still sampling a couple of new (and intriguing) drams. First up, Auchentoshan 18 year old, a lowland single malt. It undergoes triple distillation, is non-chill filtered, and is bottled at 43% ABV. Its appearance is like toffee or dark gold, and it produced delicate, oily streaks that formed and descended slowly in the Glencairn. I'm uncertain how long the bottle had been open, but I was likely only the second or third person to pour from it. The aroma was initially quite sweet, resembling caramel corn with hints of oak and alcohol. It was agreeably floral and became even more so after some time in the glass. The server inquired twice if anything was amiss, as I must have swirled and inhaled it numerous times before finally taking a drink. My companions also tested my patience... It tasted surprisingly young at first. Abundant lovely oak spice met me with the initial sip and developed into a heavily earthy and floral character before quite rapidly drying out my mouth. The overall texture remained thin throughout the entire taste. It was pleasant enough, yet unremarkable. The conclusion was rather brief with a slight warmth. Floral and oak notes predominated, though it remained quite smooth. The warmth lingered in my mouth, creating a drying sensation that, while not unpleasant, wasn't particularly exciting either. It's a dependable, lowland style malt that fits the category. The 18 years neither enhances nor detracts from it in my view, making the $22 price for 2oz seem steep. A solid 3.5 stars. Enjoy.

Very smooth with a palate full of soft notes. It could easily be mistaken for a "weaker" 18-year-old, but if you take your time and appreciate the flavor profile, this is a fine dram. Plus, it's a great value! I don't usually mention price first, but I felt compelled for this one ($129 CAD at LCBO, which is considerably less than almost all aged-statement whiskies). On the nose: Initially chocolate and mint, subtle but hints of complexity drawing me in. A deeper inhale reveals a warm green tea essence with some pear and cinnamon. The nose is notably understated, not overpowering, and both delicate and balanced. On the palate: Green tea makes a stronger appearance here, followed by milk chocolate with some cinnamon and spice. As it goes down, the cinnamon and green tea remain. Exhaling afterwards brings the chocolate back to your nose. The finish is smooth and medium-short, with green tea and cinnamon lingering. Compared to others of the same age statement, this bottle isn't complex, nor does it easily reveal its age. However, if you prefer your scotch to be softer and lighter, this is a great bottle. Similar to the 12-year, it's a great smooth sipper, but with much softer and more delicate notes.

Rather unremarkable, except for a pleasant yeasty, doughy characteristic that almost, *almost*, reminds me of a pot still Irish whiskey. The color is amber (not artificially so). The aroma has notes of dough, bananas, lemon, cake batter, and vanilla (perhaps lemon cake?). Hints of cedar and fresh wood. It also presents with freshly cut apples (including the skins!), some spice like cinnamon and ginger, herbal tea, and grass. The taste is soft and mildly flavored, with a well-managed heat. It features more leafy, herbal greens, a touch of mint, lemon, vanilla, and fresh wood. There's a slight tartness. Sour apple skins are present. A trace of smoke – is Auchentoshan even peated? Cough drops are also detected. As it rests, it does gain a little more personality, and the finish offers some white pepper, leading to warmth in the back of the throat and lingering sour apple/lemon/dry wood notes. It's a good, well-crafted spirit, but the typical Auchentoshan profile has never particularly impressed me, and this one is no different. It's an enjoyable drink, but I have no reason to buy a bottle.

Most people underrate this. Not surprising, as I find it to be a spring and summer whisky. There's no point comparing it to peat or sherry types. NOSE - mmmmm, grass, lemon, it's like a meadow after a light shower, a breeze on your skin reminding you why being alive is so good; PALATE - light, very light, perhaps explaining why it can be underrated, subtle, lemons, limes, could this be the taste of a flower? FINISH:- very smooth, no burn whatsoever, medium length, dry like the meadow fading away, leaving you with the realization that tomorrow is back to work, meeting people who have no idea about whisky and drink terrible beers or house wines. Simply enjoyable. Hud