LDMW Auchroisk 2012 Four Styles The Oaky – 75cl
Founded in 1972, Auchroisk released its first single malt in 1986. Until 2002, this malt was known as Singleton. In 2005, the distillery was closed for five months for renovation work. Buttressed by a delicately woody, vanilla, chocolate and spicy backbone, the palette of flavours and aromas found in this young bottling are also generously fruity and honeyed. Overflowing with vitality, at times it is also medicinal (essential oils).
Profile: the powerful initial nose is peppery, mentholated and vanilla. Allowed to breathe, it becomes particularly fruity (plum, pear), woody (oak) and honeyed (lime blossom). The rich attack is then spicy (nutmeg, cinnamon). It becomes medicinal on the mid-palate. The long finish wavers between coffee éclair, iris butter and cocoa powder. Dried fruits (date, sweet chestnut) are then unveiled in the grand finale. Exclusive to LMDW.
TASTING NOTES
Color: Vibrant gold.
Nose: Firm, powerful. The very hot (cayenne, pepper), mentholated and vanilla initial nose is also characterized by notes of oak and dark chocolate. Allowed to breathe, it reveals a number of stewed fruits (plum, pear, apple) and honeys (acacia, lime blossom). Next, spices gradually increase its powerful, concentrated character. It then becomes increasingly herbaceous (cut hay, alfalfa).
Palate: Both lively and rich. The particularly vanilla attack is in turn punctuated by strong spices (nutmeg, clove, cinnamon). It even becomes medicinal (ointment, essential oils) on the mid-palate. With time, it develops more creamy (coconut, yoghurt) and deliciously apricot notes, reminiscent even of Vésuve de Gianni Capovilla.
Finish: Long, rich. Pastry-like (coffee éclair), heady (iris butter), powdery (cocoa) and nobly woody (beeswax, wood filler), the finish has lots of presence. New fruits (date, walnut, sweet chestnut) also appear. The retronasal olfaction is spicy (cardamom, star anise). Green walnut, green wood, liquorice and aquatic plants (bulrush, reed) surge from the empty glass.
ABV 40%