Auchroisk 19 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) (Batch 5)

Score: 17/23 I haven't encountered Auchroisk much, but I hear it has a distinctive character unlike any other. I've wanted to try this for a while, keeping it aside. After completing significant tasks today and with Halloween approaching, the bottle's zombie imagery suggests it's time to open it. Nose: A delicate, very mild grain sweetness resembles slightly diluted skim milk. A strong, bitter waxiness with a zing, not quite tart, emerges, shifting somewhat to grassiness. Notably, I detect no fruit whatsoever. Palate: A touch of alcohol quickly yields to that bitter, slightly zesty waxiness. Alongside this, a restrained, spicy warmth, akin to mild clove with less of the bold woodiness and numbing effect, though some core clove notes remain. As the waxiness recedes (while the spice persists), the bitterness lessens, giving way to grassy flavors with a hint of other herbal notes. A faint touch of vanilla appears. As the grass and vanilla fade, it becomes clear the entire palate is built upon a foundation of exceptionally smooth, somewhat full, incredibly soft grain flavor. Sweetness finally makes an appearance here. Lingering on the tongue, the watery skim milk note from the nose returns. This is an enjoyable and distinct palate with good balance and hints of maturity, though it lacks significant complexity. Adding a fair amount of water softens the alcohol and heat, revealing more herbal nuances. However, this also substantially diminishes the pleasant milky flavor. Despite the spice and heat, this drinks smoother than its 49.4% ABV suggests; I would have guessed closer to 45%. This is due to its smoothness. While not exceptionally viscous, it's not thin enough to indicate a lower proof. Finish: The soft, pillow-like grain flavor becomes more prominent, revealing its watery skim milk aspect, which is surprisingly effective. Light grassiness and very subtle waxiness form an interesting backdrop before eventually dominating the lengthy finish. Some spicy clove warmth lingers, but it never becomes the primary taste. - Conclusion - This offers a uniquely enjoyable experience. However, if grassy, bitter wax, and skim milk were more prevalent in scotch profiles, this might not stand out as much. Its uniqueness is a major factor in its score. Given the bitter notes in the wax and clove, I suspect French oak aging. I wonder if American oak might have introduced more complexity, or if a blend could have balanced the austere French and sweet American oak characteristics. Without direct comparison yet, I'm placing this between 15 and 19. Cadenhead's Tullibardine 25 (1993) (18/23) offers a similarly interesting departure from the norm. Both are well-crafted variations on a clean style with a distinct bitter undertone. The Tullibardine's twist is Manuka honey, while this features grassy wax and milk. Their complexity levels are comparable. It's a close call, but I'm leaning towards the Tullibardine, though they are very similar. What's more striking is how much more complex Glen Grant 18 (17/23) is than either this or the Tullibardine. Perhaps I overestimated the Tullibardine or underestimated the Glen Grant. Glen Grant might warrant an 18, and the Tullibardine a low 18, or perhaps Glen Grant deserves a 19. Glen Grant is undeniably a more integrated and superior product to this by a significant margin. Considering this, this bottling should be rated a 16 or 17, depending on whether Glen Grant is an 18 or 19. Moving from refined, delicate spirits to something a bit funkier: Loch Lomond 12 (16/23). This has a pleasing refinement, but it still exhibits its alcohol and burn. On the other hand, Loch Lomond has less alcohol burn but a bolder character that doesn't always succeed. I'm currently considering a score between 15 and 17. It's a good spirit with an interesting character that I enjoy, but unfortunately, it doesn't strike me as a great whisky. I'm pleased I tried it and will finish the bottle, but I see no reason to repurchase Auchroisk in the future. While I'm enjoying this Auchroisk, the value proposition doesn't seem strong based on this bottling. With Loch Lomond 12 and Glen Grant 18 available, I wouldn't spend the money on more of this. At this point, I rank it above Loch Lomond 12 but below Glen Grant 18. I'll settle on a 17.

Nose is very light with pineapple, apple, mild spices, hay and lemon. Palate is grassy, semisweet, citrusy, mildly peppery with a little caramel. Finish is woody and dry with green tea note. This was an interesting whiskey for sure, not run of the mill. Not sure if I really liked it, would probably need half a bottle to decide. Thanks to a friend for the sample.