I loved my last bottle of Auchroisk from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) - also a 7 year, it was ex-bourbon for 5 years and re-racked into a refill red wine barrique for the final two years. The result was wild, and packed with flavor (although terribly imbalanced). So when I saw another bottle come up, this one 4 years ex-bourbon and 3 years ex-red wine barrique, I was curious all over again, and jumped on it. I have no idea why SMWS is reracking Auchroisk into red wine casks... and apparently only Auchroisk. But that question certainly begs answering. This one is bottled at 60.9% and sent out into the wilds with the name "Something to Mull Over," since I guess it hints at mulled wine. Let's find out...
Nose: What a nose! Honey for days, along with astringent ginger. A certain Armagnac note, paired with black fruits (plum, currant, blackberry). Reduced with water, it changes little.
Mouthfeel: Very heavy.
Palate: Again, whoa. The Armagnac note is paired to a rum note, both are certainly strong here, along with Turkish delight, and drying red wine tannins. With some water, the alcohol is pushed back a little and a caramel / chocolate / brown sugar aspect comes out of the woodwork. I like it better with water, but I can see it both ways.
Finish: The red wine actually comes through a bit on the finish, mostly in terms of raw cask flavor - the charred red wine barrique shows up here. Because of this, it's a decently long finish.
Verdict: What is going on with Auchroisk at SMWS?? I like these strange re-racked cask offerings, but I freely admit they are not traditional, not balanced, not ... anything normal. They are strange, odd bottles and of interest only to people who like to explore the more unusual flavors available in the Scotch palette. If you are an SMWS member and liked, say, Nice to Meat You or African Safari or any of other more radical Young & Sprightly showings, you'll like this. If you're favorite dram is Glenfiddich 15 year, you will HATE this. You've been warned.
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