Diageo

Auchroisk 25-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky (2016) Review

Auchroisk is another distillery that rarely puts out a single malt, instead relagating the majority of its whisky to use for blends.  Here’s its time to shine.  This 25-year-old expression was distilled in 1990.  Whiskies matured in refill American oak hogsheads and European oak butts were pulled for this release.  It’s bottled at 51.2% abv and retails for $450.  I have a bottle of the 20-year-old Auchroisk released in 2010, and loved it.  What’s five more years of maturation do to this whisky?

The fruity nose features fresh berries and orchard fruits, complemented by the smells of a French bakery, faint butterscotch and light oak.  Orange zest and oak spice quickly lead to hints of mulled wine and espresso.  There’s a nuttiness that comes across (with the rest of the palate in mind) as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  I know, I know…  Balancing out that nuttiness is a touch of salted caramel.  The finish is clean overall, with faint hints of salted nuts, herbs and toffee.

Wow!  As good as the 20-year expression was, this one gives a richer, more balanced presentation of the Speyside whisky.  Recommended!  9/10

Thanks to Diageo for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Glenkinchie 24-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky (2016) Review

Here we have a 24-year-old, cask strength Glenkinchie.  Is your mouth still not watering?  How about I tell you this is the first time Glenkinchie used exclusively European oak.  In this case, refill European oak filled in 1991.  This expression from the Lowland distillery is bottled at 57.2% abv at a retail price of $450.

On the nose, I get cooked cereal notes and spice, sort of like oatmeal.  Cutting through is a bright citrus.  Pine tree and molasses (Jamaican pot still rum?) round out the nose. Taste-wise, we’re talking crisp apples and caramel at first, developing into lemon curd, grapefruit juice.  Did I mention spice?  There’s lots of it, thanks to the European oak maturation.  The finish, featuring some allspice,  is bittersweet and slowly turns a touch dry.

I do like the spices the European oak brings to the table, leaving us with a light and spicy expression of Glenkinchie.  8/10

Thanks to Diageo for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Linkwood 37-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky (2016) Review


I’ve never tasted whisky from the  Linkwood Distillery.  Not because I’ve avoided it.  Original bottlings of Linkwood single malt are rare.  Just about all of the whisky distilled at Speyside distillery goes towards blends.  Linkwood 37 was distilled in 1978.  It matured in refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts.  It’s pretty inexpensive for a 37-year-old single malt, retailing for $900.  Linkwood 37-year is also bottled at cask strength (50.3%).

Elegant.  The soft, sweet nose features stewed fruit and some herbs, specifically fresh mint.  A light toffee note becomes more apparent with some airtime, along with soft spice, sandlewood, and a floral note. On the palate, creme brulee develops into cinnamon sprinkled rice pudding and baking spices, which leads into some garden herbs.  Things become a touch astringent towards the back palate.  The finish features light spice and anise, as well as hints of fruit.

A beautiful whisky!  Linkwood 37 year is probably my third favorite of the bunch.  Its fruity, spicy and dry nature is spellbounding.  Well done.  9/10

Thanks to Diageo for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.