Tastes

Save yourself. As I understand it, this whiskey has been discontinued. Now I know why... I would guess this was agreed just long enough to give it a brown tint. You won't get much from nosing. It is very immature. It is harsh on the palette. Very sharp edges. The reviews where people say it is like vodka are true.

I see the bad reviews, but I like this one. My first introduction to the Auchentoshan lineup. Nose: Initial sniff almost burned my nose, but she eventually softened. The bourbon cask is evident even if you weren't told. But behind that is the malty scent. Also some fresh fruits. Cinnamon apple and some pear. At times I also got a little pineapple. Further in there was a hint of smoke. Taste: the bourbon was not dominant, and I was glad. Sweet cereal flavors. Honey. Graham cracker. Got some kick for 40%. Finish: Finish is long. Look at the way it coats the glass and you can tell why. I actually experienced some chocolate notes like whiskey finished in Sauternes barrels. Overall: a solid whiskey. Maybe because I didn't have any preconceived notions going in. If you can find for $50... Try it. UPDATE: Day 2, this got even better. There were at times also dried apricot notes. Really surprised by this whiskey. I compared to the base Dalmore... And I like it better. Sue me! UPDATE: Day 3. Smoky!

The whiskey is sourced. So if you're a whiskey snob, that may turn you off. The sourced whiskey is only 1 year old before it is given to the finisher. Nose: fruit cocktail. Cherries from a cherry pie. Pallette: Lots of influence from the Oloroso staves. French apple pie. Finish: Long lasting. Port wine. Though it technically is a bourbon... This is a poor man's Redbreast 12 year. I really want to do a blind taste test between the two. This is a value whiskey. By value I don't mean cheaply made. I mean it is awesome for the price. You cannot tell that it's young.

I didn't think I would make it through the glass, but by the end I was ready for a second. Nose: Latakia pipe tabacco and salty ocean water. Taste: Taste exactly like it smells. The smoky Latakia is up front, salt water from an oyster. There was a little vanilla that appeared in some sips. Finish: Granny Smith apples sprinkled with granulated sugar. Finish lasts a while. This may not be for everyone. I thought it was interesting, but not an everyday sip for me. In terms of Scotch, I prefer something like Aberlour.

I'm thinking maybe my bottle came from a different barrel season. The smoke was obvious from the time it hit my glass. However, this is not an issue. Easy sipping here. Sweet on the finish. It's definitely something different.

My first encounter was not pleasant. Gave it another shot the next night and was pleasantly surprised. Pour enough for a few sips. Give a dash of water. Let sit for a few minutes. There will be a lot of alcohol on the first sip. The following sips will reveal the complexities.