The Toshan Man

Blossoms

Eiling Lim – aka Mrs Luc Timmermans – is a rising star among independent bottlers. In 2015 she released a 23 Year Old Auchentoshan from the very good vintage 1992, but before I noticed it was around, it was already sold out. So imagine my joy when the lady herself got in touch, saying she had found two bottles and if I wanted one. Can I have both? And thus it came to pass that one ended up in my collection and the other one was poured on my birthday.

Spring fresh nose on blossoms and tropical fruit, dried grass and something that reminds me of Dearly Beloved’s powder box. Green banana, dried apricot, papaya and a touch of menthol, some vanilla, liquorice and dried ginger.

Tropically sweet on the palate and at first it reminds me of Irish whiskey. The better stuff, mind you. Ginger and mint arrive first, followed by a soft note of pepper and wood. Then the grass and the blossoms kick in, reminding me of spring again.

The finish is it’s trump card. Long, grassy, feisty and mildly drying.

So happy I was able to get this. Lovely release from my favorite distillery.