Auchentoshan Distillery Cask

This was a delightful dram that a friend shared with me, only available at the Auchentoshan distillery where they even bottle it for you. This is a 54.2% ABV cask strength, Bordeaux cask, distilled on 25.09.2008 and bottled on 14.02.2018, presenting a beautiful chestnut hue. The nose is quite appealing. While I'm not usually a fan of Auchentoshan, finding their style a bit too similar to Irish whiskey, this is certainly my favorite. Coffee, Chocolate, Lemon, Merthiolate, an incredibly powerful aroma, Lavender, Oranges, Milk chocolate, Floral – it has everything. The palate is also very pleasing, like lemonade with spices. A pepper bomb, Malt, Chocolate, milk powder. A very brief clove finish detracted slightly from its score. Nicely balanced. Overall, this is a fine dram, perhaps not easily accessible, but it's my first Bordeaux cask experience. If you encounter an Auchentoshan matured in a Bordeaux cask, it should be like this one. 87/100. Nice.

Single malts released only by the distillery can be unpredictable. However, this 2005 Auchentoshan, aged for 12 years in PX cask 135 and bottled at 59.8% ABV, is truly outstanding! Maple syrup, raspberries, and candy floss delight the nose, accompanied by hints of raisins, creamy toffee, and fresh flowers. Intense and sweet upon entry, the palate encounters fresh herbs, peppermint, and dark chocolate before wood spices and waves of berry sweetness fade away. Overall, a superb whisky with an excellent presentation! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB

A review of the hand-poured distillery cask, aged in Bordeaux barrels (specifically cask #670), 62% ABV. Distilled 4/12/2010 and bottled 18/7/2021. This dram, a beautiful deep blood gold color, was an extraordinary experience. Initial aromas were of nutty muesli, pleasant and smooth. Upon tasting, it warmed my mouth instantly. Suddenly, I was eating a very spicy beef Thai curry, the heat of which lingered long after I finished sampling. A lengthy finish with subtle hints of the Bordeaux's tannins. If you have the opportunity to taste this single malt, definitely try it, though it's not something I would choose to drink regularly.

A review of the distillery's 24-year cask strength offering. 57.1% ABV, produced in 1997 and aged exclusively in Oloroso casks. This pour was exceptionally layered, with honey, pecan, and granola on the nose, but tobacco, leather, and old shoe on the palate. A rather lengthy finish, and notably the least smooth of the pours we sampled. Adding water did reduce the burn without sacrificing the flavors, though it was likely unnecessary.

Tasting notes for the 24-year-old Oloroso cask, bottled in 1997 at 57.1% ABV. Remarkably intricate, though not nearly as mellow as Auchentoshan's typical offerings. It warmed my entire palate. The flavor profile echoed their unaged spirit, which is quite fascinating for something aged two decades and change. A splash of water softened it, revealing a few more tastes.

This review leaves me quite perplexed. The dram I sampled was an 11-year-old from a First Fill Oloroso cask. It was exceptional, featuring a walnut and fig profile that utterly captivated me. What strikes me as odd is achieving such quality in just 11 years. I've never encountered anything comparable from other distilleries.