The Toshan Man

Best of Wines (aka Best of Whiskies) is an online shop in the Netherlands that bottles under it’s own label The Duchess from time to time. Well, that’s an overstatement, to be honest. So far they have only 4 releases under their belt. The one I’ll try today is an Auchentoshan from 1990, bottled in 2014, only 80 bottles strong. The label proudly claims ‘cask selected by Luc Timmermans’ – aka Mr Glenfarclas. In their so-called Shieldmaiden series they have three. An Auchentoshan 1990 ‘Ylva’, a Glenrothes 1996 ‘Lagertha’ and an Ardbeg 1991 ‘Malin’, all wives of famous Viking warriors. I confess that I had totally missed this release and if not for the friendly heads-up by a whisky lady from Holland, I probably would not have been able to add it to my collection. So thank you, Gwen from Twente.

Silky soft nose on marzipan, a wheel  barrow full of grass and green tea with a single slice of lime. Hint of white chocolate and peach from a tin. Blind, you’d be forgiving for thinking this was Irish.

Good body. Surprisingly spicy on oak, cloves and a bit of white pepper. Rather atypical, because devoid of any citrus fruit (bar a vague hint of lime), some green banana and peach, but other than that only grass and green tea. Something like menthol and a whiff of vanilla. But the whole remains light. Misses some outspokeness, to be honest. But it is much more interesting on the palate that the nose let on. 

The finish is medium long and shows a bit more fruit now, in the guise of pear, lime and even a zespri. But above all grassy. The finish, by the way, is the best part! 

Rather atypical, silent partner, if you ask me, but I fancy it. Especially the finish.