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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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February 5, 2021 |
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Yes wouldn't we do a little Auchroisk today? Remember some experts say we should pronounce that 'Ohthrusk', but I can tell you if you ever go to a shop in France and ask for 'Ohthrusk', they say wrong place and send you straight to the Tourist Office. Let's do this randomly if you please… |
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Auchroisk 25 yo 1995/2020 (49.4%, Whisky Erlebnis, bourbon, cask #2063, 129 bottles) 
This one from their 'Pop Art Collection'. Colour: white wine. Nose: oh olives and capers matured in used engine oil with pieces of lemon and orange, then pollen, mead, avocado and papaya juice, and a drop of banana wine for good measure. I'm really a fan this far, but how well will this unusual profile translate to the palate? Let's see... (come on S. this is not the BBC)… Mouth: forget about the oils, we're right on tropical fruits and the juices or liqueurs made thereof. Bananas, papayas… The structure remains malty having said that, and rather creamy. I don't know if this is art, but it is clearly pop. Finish: medium, very fruity. Notes of fruit jellies, beans, crocodiles, bears… Comments: I was not quite expecting this, although we'd somewhat go towards the very good Special Release 1990 the owners did a few years ago. Same quality.
SGP:651 – 88 points. |
This started a little fast… |
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Auchroisk 12 yo 2007/2020 (56.3%, Lady of the Glen, PX hogshead finish, cask # 816839, 265 bottles) 
Colour: gold. Nose: rather thick dry white wine than sticky PX here, or was it some Pedro that's not been done as a sherry? Some lamp oil too, paraffin, pine needles, mutton suet, white beer, sour cherries… In short, anything but PX, and not much tropicalness either at the fruit section. With water: gets a tad dirty once reduced, rather on sourer breads and carbon dust or something. Mouth (neat): good extractive maturation, this time on the usual café latte and butterscotch, but also ginger tonic and pepper liqueur. With water: some tobacco, a little leather. Mrs Macron's walnut wine (in case you're wondering, I'm joking). Finish: medium with touches of soot and sour fruits, perhaps blood oranges. Comments: it's been a little hard after the nearly perfect 1995, but I would still recommend it. Very good Ohthrusk.
SGP:362 - 82 points. |
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Auchroisk 11 yo 2007/2018 (43%, Signatory Vintage, hogsheads, casks #803194 – 803195) 
I'll say it again, I've always been a fan of this little 'budget' range. Some 18 yo Port Ellen for 25€, anyone? Granted, that was a long time ago… Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: paraffin and pear juice, I would say, plus lemon. Very elementary but I believe it captures the real style of the distillery. Mouth: very good, with a little toasted oak, otherwise apple crumble and again this dry paraffiny side. Finish: medium yet fat, sooty, slightly dusty and dirty but once again, that's part of the game here. Williams pear spirit. Salt and smoked salmon in the aftertaste – really. Comments: very very good and a clear BFYB whisky. The saltiness came unexpected. Great little whisky, great series.
SGP:352 - 85 points. |
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Auchroisk 27 yo 1991/2019 (48.7%, Valinch & Mallet, bourbon hogshead, cask #19-2701, 293 bottles)
Another one that I should have tried before, but years have only 365 days, have they not. Colour: white wine. Nose: sits right between the ueber-fruity 25 yo 'pop' one and the salty Signatory. It's even got this greasy fatness that we enjoy so much in several high-class malts, soy sauce, as well as a lot of crushed chalk the next morning after a rainy day. More or less. I may have said Hazelburn, you know. Mouth: no distillery should ever be overlooked. Extremely good Auchroisk, very tight, sooty, almost phenolic, greasy and, may I add, Springbanky. I have to say I'm not well-acquainted with Auchroisk and remember only too well the Singleton of Auchroisk of times gone by. So this is almost a revelation – well not quite but there, you get the drift. Finish: loses one or two points here, which happens pretty often as finishes tend to lose focus in many cases, and to get a little too dry and jumbled. Comments: Ohthrusk, your Majesty!
SGP:362 - 89 points. |
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