Auchentoshan Blood Oak

Auchentoshan, a Lowland distillery, offers some very good products. Their characteristic floral and creamy notes readily adopt flavors from finishing casks effectively. Blood Oak, a travel retail exclusive from 2015, is still available in many stores and online globally. It's an NAS blend that spent about a year maturing in Bordeaux red wine casks and ex-bourbon barrels. Reports suggest the whisky is approximately 6-7 years old in total. It's bottled at 46% ABV and costs just under $70. It is non-chill filtered and has no added color, and like all Auchentoshan, it's triple distilled. The appearance in the glass is a lovely, dark copper. After swirling, oily, thick legs coat the sides of the Glencairn, leaving many small, beaded water droplets near the rim. The aroma is primarily dry red wine and oak spirals, with cherries and juicy citrus mingling with Auchentoshan's signature floral notes. A quick, sharp sensation of youthful spirit can be felt if you approach it too aggressively or too soon; allowing it to rest and breathe is recommended. The initial palate is floral and inviting, with raspberries, honeysuckle, and orange slices appearing on the first sip, followed by creamy vanilla and oak cask notes on the finish. The youthful spirit also makes a strong appearance, combining with the red wine dryness to somewhat startle the taste buds. It's not as refined and smooth as the 25-year-old red wine expression from a few years back, but it's also one-third the price of that bottle. The finish remains long and fruity, somewhat hot and peppery unless cooled with water. Lingering spice and a drying sensation conclude the experience, though a light berry flavor persists even after sipping water to cleanse the palate. As mentioned, it doesn't quite match the 1989 Red Wine Cask 25-year-old I had last year, but I still genuinely appreciate the wine barrel influence here and would happily purchase another bottle at this price. You can find older Auchentoshan expressions for $20-30 more, but this distillery excels with some type of finishing cask. I'd trade those age statements for more wine finishes. My rating is 4.25 stars. If you encounter a bottle of this or a reasonably priced pour, I suggest giving it a try – it's complex and delightful. Cheers.

After experiencing two fantastic Auchentoshans (the 21-year single Sherry cask and the 26-year wine-finished), I was eagerly anticipating this one, a generous pour sent by a friend. I believe I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't had those two in mind. Regardless, it's a very good Auchentoshan, just not on the same level as the others. This one features notes of tart berries, some shortbread, and abundant cereal notes. It's significantly better than their standard offering, but if you can find their 26-year wine-matured or the reasonably priced 21-year Sherry cask, opt for those. Thanks to a friend for the pour!!

Nose: Warm baking spices, golden raisins, and perhaps apricot or blood oranges. Just a trace of peat, enough to identify it as scotch. It almost smells like a good bourbon. Palate: Sweet, woody, nutty - possibly walnuts and honey. Dry in the mouth, making me want a sip of water. Could be a higher proof, but not excessively so. Finish: After a few minutes of not drinking, a chocolate cigar taste/scent remains in my mouth. This is good, but I'd still rate it around 88/100.

Nose: Fruity and slightly wine-like. Taste: Very fruity at the start. This is where the red wine cask is apparent. Then it finishes with traditional Auchentoshan flavors of oak and fruit. It concludes with sweetness and a slight citrus note. Aftertaste: Lingering flavors of red wine and fruit. Overall: A great sipping whiskey that is very different from the usual. Something new that doesn't disappoint.

It's quite intricate and pleasant. The nose has notes of orange liqueur, sweet oak, and caramel. The palate is rather spicy and nutty, with a generous amount of cinnamon. It has a great texture and mouthfeel, and the 46% ABV is a real plus. The finish is delicious. I genuinely enjoy this whisky.

Notes of blood orange, grapefruit, citrus, grass, and toffee. It's a decent, enjoyable drink, but it's a bit thin, with the ethanol overshadowing the cask influence. The grapefruit bitterness on the finish is also slightly off-putting. I agree with the average rating of 3.6 here on the platform.