The Toshan Man

La Maison du Whisky does not need an introduction. Very regularly they select casks that are bottled exclusively for their shops. This is one from my favorite Lowlander. This Auchentoshan was distilled in 1992 and bottled as a single cask for them by Signatory in those beautiful but very-hard-to-pour-from decanters in the Cask Strength Collection. It was part of the line-up of my 50^th birthday dinner in whisky restaurant De Cluysenaer… and with good reason!

The nose reminds me of spring. Lots of grasses, blossoms (even slightly perfume-y) and a hint of tropical fruit like apricots and papaya. Honeycombs. Vanilla, liquorice and ginger, but also a fresh touch that reminds me of mint. Give it time to breathe and you’ll be treated to a lovely note of banana chips.

On the palate, this is a textbook Auchentoshan on bourbon cask. Vanilla and grasses like there’s not tomorrow, a bouquet of flowers, some white pepper and ginger with lots of citrus fruit. A little less tropical than the nose, it’s true. Perfect strength for an aperitif.

The finish – which is medium long – starts rather spicy before it turns pretty candy-like. The mint returns at the death.

You’d be forgiven for confusing this with a very good Irish whiskey if you were to taste this blind. This is by the way my 230^th Auchentoshan.