Mark Dermul
If you can help me expand my whisky palate, especially Auchentoshan, get in touch with me. Much obliged!
Auchentoshan
21 Year Old 1994 Highland Laird, bourbon hogshead Number of bottles: undisclosed ABV : 52,1% Color : gold Tasted on 05/06/2015 |
Dusty
Highland Laird is a fairly new series from Bartel Rawlings
International, the British independent bottler with their HQ in
Oxted, some 30 kilometers sout of London. To be honest, until
recently I had not even heard of them. They are specialized in
single cask whisky and rum and also market the Rawlings London Dry
Gin. They are doing it right. After all, one of their first
bottlings was this Auchentoshan 1992, no less than 21 years of age.
Wonderful, somewhat prickly, nose on all kinds of citrus fruit, nuts
and freshly cut grass. It has a dusty side, as if I am sipping this
dram in the attic. Some vanilla and thyme. Maybe some mint? Hints of
gooseberries and pineapple. Hints of varnish. Or furniture polish.
Good. If you add water: do not overdo it. It does not need much. Too
much makes it mineral and less attractive.
The arrival is good, almost creamy and holds the middle between soft
and piquant. Yes, it burns a little, but still the fruit and the
nuts – which are more marzipan now – shine through. The dusty side
also expresses itself on the palate. It has something of an ‘edge’,
that I cannot quite pinpoint, but it is becoming for the Toshan. The
fruitiness is subdued somewhat if you add water. It becomes somewhat
austere, if you know what I mean.
The finish is (almost) medium long and fruity, but surprisingly
enough I actually get the feeling to have some dust in my mouth.
Weird.