The Toshan Man

Sugar Candy

This Auchentoshan from 1975 was bottled in 1997 and can still be found for the bargain price of 125 EUR. It has a wonderful bronze color and beads beautifully in the glass. This is a vatting (nowadays we call it a blended malt) of 18 casks, both bourbon and sherry (which Auchentoshan often does, e.g. the current 12 Year Old). The casks were filled as follows: 1397 to 1399 on 27/05/1975, 3494 and 3495 on 8/12/1975, 1614 to 1920 on 11/06/1975, 400 and 401 on 27/01/1975 and 3093 to 3096 on 12/11/1975.

The nose is dominated by burnt caramel and exhibits a sour touch. Gooseberries, I'd say, but the sour ones, rather than the sweet ones. Obviously caramel and vanilla are never far away, but sugar candy and butterscotch take command.

Despite the 55,4% ABV, this Toshan is easily drinkable and only mildly spicy. Very creamy with honey and some furniture polish. Strangely enough (or not!), this one does not exhibit the surprising trace of smoke, like I got in the 1966. This Toshan does have a lot of oak on the palate.

The finish is nice and long, but with a bitter death.

Yes, you have to hand it to the old Toshans. They are very good indeed. The Distillery Archive is proving to be very interesting.

(PS. there is another bottling of 18 casks from 1975, at an ABV of 55,7%)