The Toshan Man

Bull's Eye Toshan!

The Solera is the most expensive expression in the new Duty Free range with a price tag of 140 EUR. Solera refers to the way (primarily) sherry is matured in stacked and linked casks. Wikipedia can explain better than I can. For this bottling, it merely means that the whisky was, after a regular maturation period in bourbon casks, finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It is alluringly dark. And because it was bottled at 48% ABV, it was not chill filtered.

The nose is very creamy on beeswax and extremely sweet on dark fruit. Raisins, maraschino cherries, fresh figs, dades, Sirop de Liège, blackberries, candied sugar, Arabica coffee from Ecuador – I can go on for quite a while, you know. Rosewater, cinnamon, mint and balsamico. Chocolate after a few minutes. Is there no end to this party? Soothing. Unctuous. Voluptuous and seductive, indeed! Stunning nose. I am not exaggerating when I say I nosed this whisky for twenty minutes.

Delicious mouthfeel. So full and round, you can almost chew it. Again all those beautiful, dark fruits, with a slightly drying touch of oak. This is a dessert in its own right. Bittersweet with some orange marmalade, dark chocolate and roasted almonds. Cinnamon, saffron and seasoned oak.

The chocolate and maraschino cherries return in the long, warm finish.

Absolutely fantastic Auchentoshan that reminds me of the amazing and award winning Auchentoshan 1999 Warehouse Range from Malts of Scotland. Not cheap, to be sure, but what a party! Bull’s eye Toshan.