Review by: The Muskox
This whisky was part of a tasting of the SMWS’s 2024 Festival Releases at the famous Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, DC, alongside fellow Malt Runner rye_am_legend!
Distillery: Auchentoshan.
Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Region: Lowlands.
ABV: 54%. Cask strength.
Age: 20 years. Distilled January 2023. Bottled in 2024.
Cask type: First-fill ex-bourbon barrels.
Price: $275 USD from the SMWS.
Color: Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.
Nose: Light and sweet. Honey, graham crackers, cereals, vanilla. Coconut, banana, and pandan. A bit of a lactic flavour, almost a soft cheese.
Palate: Medium texture. Arrives with honeydew melon, citrus, honey, and more cereals, before developing rather bitter with very strong oak, leather, and grapefruit pith.
Finish: Oaky, slightly fragrant. Lots of wood and leather. Cereal in milk, more melon, and strawberries.
Possible SMWS bottling name: “Cheeseboard recycling facility”
Conclusion: This was a downright dud to start the tasting off with – way overoaked and very little going on elsewhere. So disappointing.
Final Score: 71.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 