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This Auchentoshan 12-year-old expression replaced the old 10 year-old when the range was totally revamped. Elegant and refined, with those classic Auchentoshan notes of vanilla and almonds.
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Auchentoshan Review:
Color: Oak-filled and, after distillation, pale gold/yellow-tinged
Nose: Exotic in a good way, with a particularly crisp and fresh fruitiness. That freshness is particularly interesting, making this a lovely dram for those who enjoy striking innovation from a classic distillery. There is a striking an edge to the aroma in this, which is interesting and a bit surprising, as it is a much lighter nose than expected. That sharpness is not withheld, which is an unexpected quality. If you’re looking for something to compare this with, think of a lighter Redbreast.
Taste: Sweetish, with the smoothness that is inevitable with an expression like this. Sweetness is nuanced and the lingering after taste is appealing and sweet.
A really good drop here. The vanilla is not too strong and not too subtle, not too cloying and not too simple. It is a wonderful counterpoint to the slightly drying aftertaste that is all to common with many traditional Scotch whiskies. The hint of sourness was enjoyable and slightly rich, with the ethanol making a contribution to the overall taste.
One might expect a classic 12-year-old to be slightly disappointing, but what thesesays is that 12-year-old is never, ever cause for disappointment.
This is a really, really nice offering.
Auchentoshan is a peaty dram, but I have never absolutely hated the peat as I have many other peaty drams. This isn’t too much of a problem in the 12-year-old, as it’s sweet enough to work well with the peat and the increasing saltiness of the whisky.
This is good to go as a winter whisky and it is enough to warm you with a single dram. As a single drink, this is very much raw, but it is a pleasing thing to enjoy paired with food, like a bone marrow dish.
Auchentoshan 12 year old has a light and slightly bitter and full of character. It has a slight saltiness, with the bitterness providing a unique twist on traditional whisky.
Auchentoshan Review:
As a whisky that almost doubles as a dram, it has certain advantages over the 10 year old, particularly a slightly saltier finish and more interesting flavours as the whisky unfolds in the glass.
The difference between the 10 and 12 year old Auchentoshan is that the 12 year old is a little lighter and slightly sharper. I prefer the 10 year old myself, but both are excellent.
Whilst there is an obvious difference in maturity between the 10 and 12 year old, it strikes me that the 12 year old is slightly younger, which makes for a very fine expression.
This is a good whisky that any whisky lover could enjoy.
A delicious drop.
What’s not to love? Fairly light and smooth, with plenty of delicious vanilla and a fruitiness that is strangely floral. That floral fruitiness is one of the more intriguing qualities of the whisky, and it made me ponder what it might taste like if it was allowed to age for longer than usual.
This is the type of whisky you can pair with food and enjoy as it is, or you can compare it to other renowned Scotch whiskies to see how it compares. It is novel and makes a good experiment.
Some of the best expressions are the ones that break the mould and in this Auchentoshan 12 year old, those differences are apparent.
Auchentoshan 12 year old is a great whisky for the price and for the most part, a little too good to be true. It is a good whisky, and nothing huge, but a lot more than the Scotch-linking price tag would suggest.
Auchentoshan 12 Year Old is a perfect whisky to go with food, particularly if that food is something sharp and sophisticated like italiansalumi.
It’s a little too sweet to have as a sipping whisky, though it doesn’t completely turn you off. It’s a good drop, and just down right delicious to enjoy on its own.
Auchentoshan Review:
Auchentoshan 12 Year Old is a fun whisky that really needs to be experienced, and it is a great way to try something new.
Auchentoshan, Auch-ntonish, Auch-ten-Ishan, AKI… I’ve seen it all here. There are any number of versions of the name, where you’d be wasting your time looking for them. They all mean the same thing: An absolute classic.
Auchentoshan 12 is a great whisky at a highly affordable price, and there are plenty of single malts that are more expensive.
