Of the first three bottles I purchased from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), this was the one I was the most curious about. I'd had Ardmore, I'd had Dailuaine, but I'd never had Auchroisk. This bottle was subtitled "Adventurous African Safari," which is highly colorful and perhaps mildly suggestive of flavors to come. It was aged 5 years in ex-bourbon casks, then another 2 years in a 2nd fill red wine barrique. Bottled at a healthy 62% ABV, it's not colored or filtered.
Nose: That red wine "tang," quickly recedes and reveals a world of brown sugar, dark rum, vanilla, baking chocolate, raspberries, black tea, and shag tobacco. With a splash of water, the red wine note returns alongside the rum, and a soft floral element.
Mouthfeel: Thick and viscous.
Palate: Tobacco, rum, vanilla, nutmeg, freshly baked cake. Really vivid palate. With water, the rum and vanilla push through alongside more baking spices and some more chocolate.
Finish: The finish is a nice glow of tobacco, baking spices (especially ginger), and wood notes. Attractive.
Verdict: So interesting! Strangely aligned flavors are the name of the game here: who could have guessed that red wine, dark rum, and shag tobacco would coexist to happily? Or baking spices, baker's chocolate, and freshly baked cake? Yet they do. Auchroisk proves a fascinating distillery.
No comments:
Post a Comment