Soba45
Auchentoshan 21 Year
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed
March 18, 2018 (edited November 25, 2020)
Now some distilleries potentially are at a disadvantage before I even try them as I don't view them favourably. However you could flip that coin on it's head and say the lower the expectations the higher the chance they'll be met or exceeded. 3.4 is the highest I've given this distillery... does this beat that. Barely...3.5 I think. Whiskey exchange tasting notes are on the money. It has a nice nutty oiliness, citrus, grass, honey but an underlying oakey bitterness resides which is off-putting. It did however diminish as I got through the sample so who knows how a full bottle might pan out but at $200USD over here in NZ i won't be testing that theory out. I have another sample so perhaps another day another dram a different score perhaps.
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Yeah I'd say as a whole lowland distilleries haven't blown me away. The Glenkinchie 12 was terrible, Auchentoshan average. The Bladnoch connoisseurs choice 12 yr was the best I've had but even then 3.5 rating. Bartenders malt is def one I'm looking out for!
@cascode - I have a bottle of 25 year old Auchentoshan that spent 17 years finishing in red wine casks. I’m holding out hope that it’s going to be that diamond in the rough. I agree, though, most everything else I’ve had from them is average at best. I did enjoy the new Bartender’s Malt, however. Surprisingly good for $47.
I can honestly say I've never tasted an Auchentoshan that was any more than "interesting" to my palate. Everyone else seems to get "nuttiness" - I always get "pine resin", and not in a good way.