Auchentoshan 21 ?

[Gary Wells]

Auchentoshan 21:
likes, dislikes, comments?
I picked up 2 bottles in a very weak moment because they were out of Bunnahabhain 18.

[jwise]

Sorry, can't help from personal experience. I've only tasted the 10yr Auchentoshan, and I didn't care for it too much. Its pretty surprising that you would go from an Islay whisky (albeit, Bunnahabhain, which is a light Islay) to a Lowland, known for its triple distillation and very "thin" profile.

However, the 21yr from Auchentoshan is supposed to be quite the dram, with a dramatically different flavor profile than I would expect. Here's what I was able to find about it:

Originally Posted by lincoln imp from whiskywhiskywhisky.com

Colour - dark amber

Nose - Vanilla, marzipan, honey, banana

Mouth - Spicey, more vanilla, marzipan, slight orange zest

Finish - Medium length, warming, gentle on the palate.

[Gary Wells]

Many thanks, jwise, I was surprised myself when I got it home & got to thinking about it. They're unopened as of yet, might retain 1 to try, & switch the other one when they get some more Bunnahabhain 18. I still have 4 unopened Mac 18 YO's & 3 Portwood 21 YO's that I am afraid to open for fear that I won't want to partake of anything else.

[jwise]

Gary- you had been laughing at this one!

Originally Posted by Gary Wells

I still have 4 unopened Mac 18 YO's & 3 Portwood 21 YO's that I am afraid to open for fear that I won't want to partake of anything else.

Why, pray tell, do you have four/three bottles of a whisky you have never tried? I suppose that is an ultimate expression of faith? But faith in whom?

I look forward to hearing how you like the Toshan 21. It is reviewed very well.

[Gary Wells]

I actually had a sample bottle of the Mac 18 a while back and really liked it, to me was a definite taste above the Mac 12.
Shame on me for the 3 unopened bottles of Balvenie Portwood 21 but I don't remember ever hearing of anybody not liking the Portwood, and most comments that I have seen in print lean towards worshipping it over most other expressions. So, oops, my bad, I'm either 3 times an idiot or I am in heaven. I'm betting on heaven. I will look for the Toshan 21 YO. And, furthermost, I especially appreciate and respect your opinions.

[jwise]

Well, I think you are in heaven, and you just don't fully appreciate it yet! I'm about to post my Mac 18yr review, so look for it!

[jwise]

I saw a bottle of Auchentoshan 21 at the store today, and nearly paid the $159 in order to tell you what I thought about it. However, cooler heads prevailed and I bought the bottle of Glenrothes 1991 Vintage, which I absolutely love! One of the very best...

[Gary Wells]

Broke out a new bottle for the next 2 weeks of "1 drink a night" drinking spree. The Auchentoshan 21 yo. If I were to pass judgement in my personal liking list I would put it on about a level with Bunnahabhain 18 yo, but the Bunnahabhain 18 yo I can pick up for $89.99, or $98.09 with tax, where as the Auchentoshan 18 yo sells for $129.99, or about 141.69 with tax. For about $44.00 difference and my poor style of drinking SMSW, I had better pick up some more Bunnahabhain 18 for a regular occasional steady date.

I am not passing judgement on it's nose, taste, completion, or anything else, but just for either like / dislike, I'm not real impressed. There again, it might grow on me, but for $44.00 difference, it had better hurry the heck up.

For unopened expressions in my poor man's SMSW cubbard, I have 4 bottles of Mac 18 yo, 1 bottle of mac 12 yo, 1 bottle of Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist, 1 bottle of Bunnahabhain 18 yo, 3 bottles of Balvenie Portwood 21 yo, 1 bottle of Balvenie 12 yo DW, 1 bottle of Dalwhinie 15 yo, (that stuff sucks), and another bottle of Auchentoshan 21. I am deathly afraid of tapping into the Balvenie 21 yo Portwood for fear that I will never be the same again, and pretty much the same for the Mac 18 yo, but not as much.

Other than I need to learn to make paragraphs when posting, any thoughts from others?

I have given some serious thought to a blend named "Black Bull 30 yo", mainly because I want to find out if I have any likes for blends, and at 30 yo and $174.95 should be pretty good.

Any other 18-21 yo sherries that I should try?

Ardbeg islay SMSW, “Uigeadail”, NCF, was sort of OK, but way too much medicinal seaweed, iodine taste for my liking, so I probably won't exactly fall in love with the Beist either.
Dalwhinie 12 yo sucks, so I am sure that the 15 yo is not much better, & Dalmore 15 yo was not much better than it's 12 yo.

Opinions please?

[jwise]

If you're looking for older sherried whiskies, try the Aberlour 18yr. It is 100% matured in ex-sherry casks, and is quite good. It is $100, or close to it. If you want something a bit less expensive, you can try out the 16yr which is double-casked, making it a bit spicier. The 18yr is smoother, but the 16yr is still very good (and only $55!)

For a blend, I've heard good things about Usquaebach, and they have some more aged blends.

I assume you have tried the Johnnie Walker Green label? It is a pure vatted malt comprised of Caol Ila, Talisker, Linkwood and Cragganmore. Very tasty! I've seen it go for anywhere from $50-80.

[Gary Wells]

I will give your recommendations some serious thought, jwise, I had not thought of johnnie Walker Green Label, and I have seen it for sale, too, and I also saw the Aberlour 18 for sale at my favorite discount liquor store / mart.
All good suggestions, jwise, many thanks.
And after a drink of the Auchentoshan 18 for my personal tastes I am going to downgrade it a peg down below the Bunnahabhain 18, which sells for considerable less and tastes better.

[Son-o'-the-Sod(?)]

Originally Posted by jwise

I assume you have tried the Johnnie Walker Green label? It is a pure vatted malt comprised of Caol Ila, Talisker, Linkwood and Cragganmore. Very tasty! I've seen it go for anywhere from $50-80.

I've not read or heard anything but good things about JW Green, mostly the same with the Gold (the other colors are a different story, lots of opinions on the Blue and Black out there, and let's just pass on the Red!) Full disclosure: I've only ever had the Black and if I ever had the Red it was pretty "unrememberable" (-is that a word?!!).

[jwise]

Originally Posted by Son-o'-the-Sod(?)

I've not read or heard anything but good things about JW Green, mostly the same with the Gold (the other colors are a different story, lots of opinions on the Blue and Black out there, and let's just pass on the Red!) Full disclosure: I've only ever had the Black and if I ever had the Red it was pretty "unrememberable" (-is that a word?!!).

Maybe "unremarkable?"

Here's a very unscientific set of reviews of the Green Label:

http://www.forpeatsake.com/Johnnie+W...15+Years+Old/1

Another quote: "Johnnie Walker Green Label Blended Malt is deliciously nuanced and complex Scotch whisky that I would recommend savouring on minor special occasions or with close friends."

I repeatedly hear from whisky drinkers that the Green Label is the best of the bunch, or at the very least represents the best value in the line.

Frankly, I rather enjoy it. Here is my review on it:

Johnnie Walker's Green Label is aged 15yrs and is blended from pure malt whisky from four exceptional distilleries: Talisker, Cragganmore, Linkwood, and Caol Ila. I have before tasted their Black Label and Red Label, and I've got samples of the Gold and Blue in my cabinet. Look for those reviews sometime soon! However, I have heard over and over how the Green Label is: (a) the best of the range, or (b) if not the best, it is the best value in the range.

One problem with the Green Label locally is that the price varies incredibly. I have seen the whisky sell from $50 to $70, which is just silly. I refused to spend the $65-70 when I knew I could find it (eventually) for $50. So, when I finally found it for $50, I went for it.



Nose: Interesting... This definitely shows its lineage, with the pepper of Talisker and the smoke from Caol Ila coming through! At this point, this and a little sea air is all I am really getting. I'm sure once I take a sip or two, the whisky will open up a bit more. We'll see. Yep! I'm getting some soft fruits coming out now.

Body: Medium body. The whisky feels good in the mouth.

Palate: Some spice builds, and there is some smoke coming out in the back. On the third and fourth pull, I'm getting some citrus fruits (the fruit, not the rind). The whisky (at room temperature) feels cool in the mouth, which is quite refreshing. As the glass slowly empties, the dram gets more fruity: tangerine? Very robust flavor, which has been blended nicely for a well-rounded whisky profile. I feel somewhat like I have cheated, drinking a blend of single malts, but I'm getting over it!

Finish: Spicy, and medium long. Pepper, with smoke.

It has been a little while since I had a nice smokey malt. I have been drinking some great Speysides, and some unpeated Islays, but there is a special place in my heart for a little smoke!

I just poured myself another dram, as I am really enjoying this whisky. Kudos to Johnnie Walker for blending us up a fantastic pure vatted malt. Seriously, this is yummy. If you like a peppery malt with some smoke with just a little citrus fruit to round things out, check out the Green Label from Johnnie Walker!

[Gary Wells]

Good advice, jwise, I found JWGL at Ralph's this AM on sale for $49.95 in quantities of 1 - 5 and another discount to $44.95 if 6 bottles or more are bought. They had 3 on the shelf, but I bought only 2 for fear of having 3 bottles of something had not tried yet. That did turn out to be a very big mistake on the Auchentoshan 21. I bought 2 bottles at $ 129.95 each figuring if 21 yo, how bad can it really be? Well, IMHO, pretty bad. Bad enough for me to return 1 bottle back and exchange it for something I like better. But I have a feeling that I will feel different about the JWGL.

[jwise]

That's a great price on the JWGL. It is crazy to me how widely the price varies on that bottle.

[Gary Wells]

I think that Ralph's normal price is $67.95 or so, but they just started handling the JWGR in the last 3 or 4 months in the store that I frequent. I suspect that is pretty pricey compared to the other liquors that they handle, consequently nobody bought it, and they marked it down to $49.95 to move it.
Don't you have any discount liquor, beer, and / or wine outlets in the greater Houston area? One in the Orange County, CA area has Balvenie Portwood 21 at $169.95, Mac 18 at $129.95, Auchentoshan 21 at $129.95, which is way overpriced by my taste and / or like standards.

[jwise]

There is a very large chain store that usually has some of the best prices (averaged over all), but the prices for individual bottles can vary a bit between the smaller shops, so that you can actually get better prices on certain bottles at the local shops.