Auchentoshan 1990 (for CWS China)

Here’s another one of these interesting bottlings exclusive to the Chief Whisky Society in China.

It’s an Auchentoshan 1990, 27 years old and bottled from a single Oloroso sherry cask. Notice the brown hue, rather than the full-blown reddish tint that we would expect from first-fill sherry these days.

Auchentoshan 27 yo 1990
(53,1%, OB for CWS China 2017, first-fill Oloroso, 512 btl.)

Nose: not the classic Oloroso style indeed. There’s brown sugar, leafy notes, overripe pear and oranges instead of figs or raisins. Goes on with hay, leather, dried flowers, cloves and Dulce de Leche (love that). Nicely different.

Mouth: a spicy, leafy profile again, full of ginger, cloves, cinnamon and hints of Medjool dates. Some tobacco and Seville oranges. Roasted nuts with a bitter hint of Turkish coffee towards the end. Hints of sherry brandy rather than Oloroso wine.

Finish: long, still very spice-driven with bitter oranges.

Interesting Auchentoshan, because it has this Brandy de Jerez profile rather than a classic Oloroso style. European oak, probably. Good selection.

Score: 88/100