Name: Auchentoshan Sauvignon Blanc Finish

Color: Yellow

Nose: Malt, heather, white wine, oak wood

Taste: Malt, honey, citrus, sav blanc notes

Auchentoshan Sauvignon Blanc Finish is a limited edition that was released in 2019. It is aged five years in ex-bourbon casks and  five months in Sauvignon Blanc casks from Bordeaux. It is bottled at 47% abv.

This expression is a little strange. Upon tasting it, I immediately thought this must be an experimental expression or a marketing gimmick. It has an odd snappy flavor and a “stingy” finish as my sister described it. It reminds me a little of Badsons Beer that was finished in chardonnay casks. You can drink it, it’s not disgusting, but it is not that enjoyable. From my research the distillery marketing states, “served chilled from the refrigerator or from an ice bucket…..use in Highballs and Spritzer”. I did not try it chilled so perhaps it would taste better, but I doubt it. This is just a  marketing campaign for whisky as a mixer to move product. The snappy taste and stingy finish must come from the Bordeaux wine casks. White with from Bordeaux can lean towards being harsher tasting in my experience. I am glad I tried it, but I cannot recommend it. If you have not experienced Auchentoshan I recommend you start with American Oak.

Priced around $70 and I am not impressed. 

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Name: Glen Scotia – Double Cask

Color: Amber

Nose: Malt, flowers, citrus (lemon), spices

Taste: Malt, flower, citrus, oak light sherry, honey, spice finish

Glen Scotia is distilled in Campbeltown, Scotland which is one of the five whisky producing regions in Scotland. At one time Campbeltown had thirty distilleries but today there is only three remaining. (Glen Scotia, Glengyle, & Springbank)

Glen Scotia – Double Cask is a Campbeltown malt aged in American oak and finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It is bottle at 46% abv which is a little higher than your average scotch. It has a medium body and is smooth with little rich spice notes on the finish. It also has Little dry, red wine sherry thing on the finish.

It has been years since I sampled a Glen Scotia and I forget that is a good whisky. I was impressed with the Double Cask as this is easy drinking whisky with a nice balance. I will be looking to buy a bottle if I see one.

Expressions: Double Rum Cask, Harbor, Double Cask, Victoriana, 15-, 18-, and 25-year-old.

Priced around $70 and worth the money if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Name: Lochlea Harvest Edition

Color:  Light Amber

Nose: Malt, orange, flowers, cedar

Taste: Malt, orange fruit, light oak

Lochlea Distillery is located in Ayrshire, Scotland and was founded in 2018. It is a new distillery, and therefore their whisky is young. In Scotland, by law, whisky must age a minimum of 3 years & 1 day. In my experience, not enough time passes in 3 years for a “scotch” whisky, but a distillery does have to make money. 

Harvest Edition is 100% malted barley, aged 3 years in Port and first fill Bourbon casks, and bottled at 46% abv. It has a nice medium body and easy finish. I saw this one at the Postill in Glasgow this year (2024) and decided to gamble. Overall, it is a nice whisky, but I was not blown away by it. Young “Scotch” can be tough to enjoy compared to young Bourbon.

Other expressions: Our Barley, Cask Strength and Seasonal Released (1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Crop).

Priced around $65 and decent. I will try more next time I in Glasgow and I have not seen it on the shelves in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Name: Dalmore 15

Color: Amber brown

Nose: Malt, heather, honey, oak

Taste: Malt, heather, honey, light oak, sherry notes

The Dalmore Distillery is a located in Alness, Scotland which just North of Inverness and is in the Highlands. It was established in 1839 and has changed ownerships many times over the years. Dalmore whisky bottles are very distinguished in their shape and appearance. They have an oversized silver stags head placed on the outside of the bottle. High end bars and stores would like to line them up as they look better than most bottles.

Dalmore 15 has light cream flavor with well blended flavors of malt, honey, and heather. There is a more wood on the nose with light sherry and wood on the finish. It is far better tasting and balanced than the 12-year-old or 12 Sherry Cask (aka the “twelves”).The whisky is aged 12 years in ex-bourbon casks and then split into three batches of Amoroso, Apostoles, and Matusaelm Oloroso cask for the last three years. They are then blended back together into one cask before bottling. It is bottled at 40% abv and is 3% abv lower than the twelves but the aging of three additional years makes a big difference. The three-cask process is interesting and I intend to learn more as I review other Dalmore expressions.

Dalmore Expressions: 12-year-old, 12-Sherry Cask, Port Wood Reserve, Cigar Malt, 14, 15, King Alexander III, 18, 21, and various “Limited Releases”.

Priced around $125+ and worth the money. If it is out of your budget, try the 12 or the 12-Sherry Cask.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!