Auchentoshan The Bartender's Malt

Nose: Vanilla, Cookie Dough, Apricots, Raisins, Honey, Caramel, Blackberries, Oak, Green Apples, Watermelon, Bananas Palate: Vanilla, Honey, Caramel, Bananas, Coconut, Raisins, Plums, Apricots, Cherries, Oak Finish: Vanilla, Green Apples, Coconuts, Bananas, Honey

Interesting and complicated in a good way

Purchased this on a whim while in TN last weekend. Nose: beautiful cocoa nose with a hint of citrus and something akin to cherry (sharpness, might be the chocolate flavor). Brings to mind the chocolate orange slice candy I occasionally had as a child. Little bit of a floral note sprinkled on top of everything too. Tasting: floral on the front, something spicy (some tastes have mentioned ginger but I’m not terribly familiar with that flavor) follows and then it opens up to something like cinnamon mixed with water - very subtle flavor. The finish isn’t very long and doesn’t hang around. Overall not bad! I am more of an Islay guy but in terms of a good sipper this will do. Doesn’t quite get to Speyside characteristics (my least favorite region) but has just enough of the maltiness and a touch of the barrel/oakiness to be a good level of brazen.

Scumptuous nose with floral, chocolate, orange and malt notes plus a hint of smoke. The palate starts off a little rough, grungy for lack of a better word, more Neal Young and Crazy Horse than Nirvana, but it morphs, sip by sip, into a Chris Cornell like transcendent beauty touching all the notes of the nose and adding a raspy spice. The finish is long, peppery and satisfifying.