Slainte-Mhath
Auchentoshan 12 Year
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed
October 14, 2016 (edited March 5, 2024)
Triple distillation gives this Lowland whisky a refined, soft and creamy character. If you believe that Auchentoshan 12 is only suitable for beginners, you are missing an awful lot! The nose is light and sweet with a pleasant crème brûlée note. Gentle citrus fruits harmonize with herbal vanilla, raisins and honey. Tastewise, the sherry cask influence certainly adds to the complexity of this single malt. It's sweet and mildly fruity with hints of hazelnuts. The finish is clean, moderate and semidry. An intriguing whisky that is refreshingly different from the others!
RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]
29.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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Re-reviewed in 04/2018: About 2 years ago, I gave this Lowlander 85 points and found it really characterful and decent. Honestly, I did not expect such a disappointment when giving Auchentoshan 12 yo another try 2 years later. The nose was restrained and weak, and the finish was hard to find at all. Only the taste was still as good and characterful as I remembered it. Although it hurts me, I have to knock three points off and give this malt a new rating of 82/100. Slàinte!
Slainte: I totally agree...Lowlanders have a reputation as being "too floral" or "light". One of the best whiskies I've ever had was a Lowlander (Rosebank)..amazing depth and complexity. I just picked up a bottle of Ailsa Bay during my recent travels---it's from a new Lowlander distillery that actually uses peat as well as triple distillation. That will be an intriguing one to try. ( I'd be glad to share a sample---when I get around to opening it, will let you know if you're interested)