A seductive whisky for a first introduction to the whisky world

Auchentoshan distillery is the nearest distillery from Glasgow. 

Auchentoshan whiskies are produced in the Lowlands traditional style meaning that they are elaborated through a triple distillation such as Irish whiskey: Wash still/low wines still/spirit still. This is the only Scottish distillery to permanently do this and It is well explained on their own website: http://www.auchentoshan.com/triple-distillation-(our-way)/triple-distillation.aspx

This triple distillation allows to obtain pure and soft distillate which reach 80% of alcohol, which is not common in Scotland (≈ 70%). Those whiskies are renowned to be light, smooth and delicate.

For several weeks, I had a mission to find a whisky that can be appreciated by some of my female friends which usually define whiskies as too strong aged alcohols. To resolve it, I chose an easy-to-drink whisky and we tasted together an Auchentoshan 12 years old.

They changed their mind, new people to share spirit experience with. Mission accomplished!

The same experience can be reproduced with a Glenkichie 12 years old to introduce non-amateur to the fabulous world of whiskies. They are two entry-level whiskies for new whisky amateur.

Tasting notes

Colour: Gold/amber

Nose: Light. Citrus and apple (cider) notes. Caramel, toasted almonds.

Palate: Light and smooth. Floral. Citrus fruits: Orange zest/lemon. Spicy: Cloves, cinnamon, vanilla and ginger taste. Honey, caramel notes. Bourbon and Sherry mark.

Finish: Medium and dry. Spiced and barley malted notes. Slightly bitter tasting (dark chocolate)

ABV: 40%

Slainte!

A story of oak maturation

The Balvenie distillery was founded by the William Grant & Sons family in 1892 in Dufftown. This same family started the Glenfiddich and the Kininvie distilleries in the Speyside region. It is one of the few Scotch distilleries which has its own malting floors, also supplying its neighbour Glenfiddich. The Balvenie whiskies are elaborated for more than 50 years by David Stewart, the masterblender. The company enjoys a excellent reputation in the whisky world with several whisky awards.

Today, let’s taste one of his realisations, The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 y.o. It is a Single malt Scotch Whisky which is matured in two distinctive casks. Over its period of maturation, it’s transfered from an ex-Bourbon oak cask to a Sherry oak cask. 

Tasting notes

Colour: Amber

Nose: Citrus fruits (Orange dried peel), honey, vanilla. Hints of oak.

Palate: Soft, medium body. Sweet fruit taste. Honey, vanilla, cinnamon, spices notes. Slightly tannic (sherry notes) and oaky. Citrus taste and bitterness. Duality of flavours (Bourbon+sherry maturation)

Finish: Medium. Dry vanilla notes and spicy.

ABV: 43%

A pleasant Single malt whisky with an interesting nose, very aromatic. An easy to drink Scotch whisky, great for introducing people to single malts. I recommend without hesitation and it is available at a reasonnable price.

Slainte!

Back to the origin...

Today, let’s talk about one of the first whisky which made me up my fascination for whiskies: The Aberlour A’bunadh (a-boona), A’bunadh meaning “the origin” in Scottish Gaelic.

Tasted for my first time at the distillery, appreciated several times, I recently had a glass in the Café Brun in Bordeaux.

Let’s have a dram together. As usual, a great trip! …

A’bunadh is a cask-strength single malt whisky from the Aberlour Distillery (Pernod Ricard) in the Speyside region (Scotland).

This cask-strength is produced as the 19th century traditional way of making whiskies, exclusively matured in Olorosso sherry barrels, unchilled and unfiltered.

It has no age statement. Each batch is blended from 5 to 25 years old barrels and each batch carries a unique number, mentioned on the label. Thus, depending from which batch the elixir come from, colour, nose, palate and the ABV vary. For example, the ABV can oscillate from 59% to 63%.

What does it taste like?

Tasting notes

Colour: Dark amber/Deep copper

Nose: Powerful. Spicy and fruity. Citrus fruits notes. Sherry, winey notes. 

Palate: Well balanced. Citrus fruits (orange), black cherry and dried fruits notes. Ginger, dark chocolate. Spiced and woody. Intense Olorosso sherry notes.

Finish: Long and warming. Chocolate, honey. Oaky and spicy notes.

A superb after-dinner malt, complex and powerful for sherried lovers. 
To match also with an onctuous molten chocolate cake (fondant au chocolat)

It’s also a very good value for money for a cask-strength malt whisky. An advice, always have a bottle of it in your whisky collection or some if you want to compare the different batches.

I really recommend the Aberlour Distillery Experience, an excellent visit where you can unbolted your own Aberlour whisky, direct from the cask (Sherry or Bourbon).

Slainte!