Monday 2 September 2013

Auchentoshan 18 year old. 43%

Nose: Something lighter, quickly drowned out by solid honey, spice and a touch of fruit.
Mouth: honey, nutty, woody, spices (ginger and cinnamon), something raisin-y (just maybe some sherry in there?). I think there are some lighter grassy/floral notes too, but they're almost drowned out by the rest.
Finish: smooth. Cereal, honey and vanilla.

I want to love this, I really do. It's certainly not a bad malt- indeed, very drinkable. I rather like the lowland style and some of the younger 'toshans. But the lighter, grassier influences here are almost completely swamped by the wood-influenced heavier Speyside-esque stuff. It's a pleasant fireside dram, but Speysides do the Speyside thing better, and it just doesn't quite gel for me.