The Toshan Man

Peaty Toshan

This single cask of Auchentoshan yielded 168 bottles. I got to know it at the Whisky Festival for Independent Bottlers in Belgium last April. Someone pointed out to me that there was a Peaty toshan to be had. Obviously that is not possible. So I hurried over to Erik Molenaar’s booth and got me a sip.

I get the typical Auchentoshan traits on the nose: vanilla cookies, citrus and some floral notes, but indeed the whole is wrapped in an atypical – for the Lowlander at least – smokiness. I am not yet convinced this is peat. Even if it is, it would have to be from a cask that had previously held peated whisky and somehow got past the cask checking police at Auchentoshan. But it is quite special and I have to admit that I really like this nose.

It is creamy on the palate, but not alcoholic. That is good news. On the palate, it is a perfect continuation of the already nice nose, but I do get some more fruit. Apples, coconuts, mirabelles. The the smoke returns in full force! It becomes a tad silt, even. What is this? But good, nonetheless. Indeed, this is a bit like a peat-finshed Toshan. Even better news.

Even in the long, quite spicy finish, the smokiness lingers throughout.

An odd one out, to be sure. What we call a lucky accident? The fact that Kintra was able to get hold of this and had the balls to bottle it, is a huge credit to Erik Molenaar.