Whisky Sponge Auchentoshan 31 Year Ed. N

Tasting Notes

Andrew's Tasting Note

Nose: citric, floral, and dusty; Playdoh and window putty; lemon and lime salted tortillas; delicate green grassy malt; marzipan and apricot jam; nutty and toasty.

Palate: thick, coating, and toasty, with more spicy citrus and green grassy malt; lemon and lime salted tortilla chips with smoky peanut salsa; more Playdoh, window putty, and linseed oil; dried apricots and Quaker's Harvest Crunch with dried apple chunks; hotel buffet melons; potpourri and fried sage.

Finish: long, oily, spicy, and drying; sage leaves fried in olive oil, dusty window putty, and peanut salsa. 

Comment: this is a fresh, oily, and citric, spirit-driven malt with firm citrus notes and hotel buffet melons.

Producer Tasting Note

Nose: immediately vibrant and fruity, with elements that recall slightly old school, oily old Irish whiskey. Then big notes of honey, green fruit jams and olive oil, even a little soft waxiness which adds richness.

Palate: beautiful arrival, full of ripe yellow and green fruits, with hints of dry waxes, flowers, pollens, tropical fruit teas and grassy olive oil. Rich, fruity, textural and yet still with great balance and freshness.

Finish: long, fruity, more on dried flowers with pollens, crystallised honeys and waxes. 

91pts Whisky Fun

"We've tried quite few 1991s already but all but one were much younger. Old age may have made it creamier and more on jams and crystallised tropical fruits, but on the other hand, this was a 2nd fill barrel, so rather a lot of freshness could have remained within the spirit. In other words, time rather than wood. Colour: light gold/chardonnay. Nose: chardonnay! Only half-joking mind you. Surely some 'white soil' as they have in Champagne or in Jerez, both very chalky, then many herbs, leaves, peelings and grasses, with something reminding me of high-end cachaças. A funny olive oil + aniseed tango, and again some fresh chalky Chardonnay (in refill American oak, ha). With water: awesome damp chalk, marl, and crushed slate. Just a little menthol. Mouth (neat): it really is an Auchentoshan that went beyond mangos and that became very complex, even if there is a feeling of oneness, like in a great white Bourgogne or even a proper Champagne blanc de blancs, both very floral. Is there a way of adding bubbles? With water: vine peaches, yellow peaches and white peaches in utter abundance. Finish: mirabelles and once again a mineral, chalky, slightly salty touch. But remember we ought to use the word 'salinity' rather than 'salt'. Comments: awesome Auchentoshan-Montrachet by the Sponge. Bizarrely, 1991 was not such a great vintage in Burgundy – but apparently, it was in the Lowlands. SGP:662 - 91 points."