“Leave a Tender Moment Alone”
Whisky Review # 1072
Country: Scotland 🏴
Region: Lowlands
Brand: Auchentoshan Bartender's Malt - Annual Limited Edition # 2
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: Mix of a/o Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherried Wood
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 70-90 (August 2025)
Maturation: Mix of a/o Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherried Wood
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 70-90 (August 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline okay at around US$ 70.
Buying Advice: 👎 Not interesting enough as a Single Malt. Sir Mix-a Lot might like it given the high ABV
Colour:
Dark Golden(Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
Relatively Young and Light. There's Fruit around both Sweet and Sour. Some of it is Fresh while another part is Dried. The Alcohol is there but stays within the limit. It's different from your average Scotch whisky. Almost like a mix of Irish Whiskey and a German Obstler.
Buying Advice: 👎 Not interesting enough as a Single Malt. Sir Mix-a Lot might like it given the high ABV
Colour:
Dark Golden(Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
Relatively Young and Light. There's Fruit around both Sweet and Sour. Some of it is Fresh while another part is Dried. The Alcohol is there but stays within the limit. It's different from your average Scotch whisky. Almost like a mix of Irish Whiskey and a German Obstler.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Vanilla, German Butter Biscuits, Grass & Straw, Orange, Dried Fruit like Apples and Plums, Banana Ice Cream, Slightly Sour Cherries, Cinnamon and Pepper.
Sweet Barley, Vanilla, German Butter Biscuits, Grass & Straw, Orange, Dried Fruit like Apples and Plums, Banana Ice Cream, Slightly Sour Cherries, Cinnamon and Pepper.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Butterscotch, Resin, Peach or Nectarine in Syrup, Oak, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Apricot Jam, Lemon, Nougat, Green Tobacco Leaves, Mint and light hints of Acetone and Burnt Herbs.
Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Butterscotch, Resin, Peach or Nectarine in Syrup, Oak, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Apricot Jam, Lemon, Nougat, Green Tobacco Leaves, Mint and light hints of Acetone and Burnt Herbs.
Again relatively Young. It's mostly the Fruit that stands out. It's mainly Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour notes as well. The Sweetness is slightly Artificial both on the Palate and later on in the Finish. I find it rather dull and boring. The Alcohol is more noticeable now.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, slightly Sour Cherries, Seville-Orange, Caffe Latte, Banana Ice Cream, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Caramel, Butter Biscuits, Mandarin in Syrup, Lemon, Milk Chocolate, Oak Char, Burnt Herbs and Green Wood, Acetone, Ginger, Mint, Nutmeg & Cardamom.
Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, slightly Sour Cherries, Seville-Orange, Caffe Latte, Banana Ice Cream, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Caramel, Butter Biscuits, Mandarin in Syrup, Lemon, Milk Chocolate, Oak Char, Burnt Herbs and Green Wood, Acetone, Ginger, Mint, Nutmeg & Cardamom.
Finish:
Middle-Long & mostly Bitter-Sweet. A few Sour notes as well. The Alcohol is more noticeable now and leaves the Finish a bit Harsh. Quite Dry in the end as well. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Grain, Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Berries, Lemon, Charred Oak, Banana Ice Cream, Mandarins in Syrup, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Nutmeg and a hint of Acetone or Varnish and Raw Meat.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water does not improve this Auchentoshan
Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 6
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Conclusion:
The Auchentoshan distillery was founded in 1823 by John Bulloch and is located in Dalmuir, close to Glasgow. It exchanged hands various times before being bought by Morrison (Bowmore) in 1984. Morrison was bought by Suntory from Japan in 1994. From then on the distillery has become very popular again. It's one of the few remaining Lowland distilleries and it's the only Scottish one that maintains triple distillation. The core range includes American Oak, 12 Years, Three Woods, 18 Years, 21 Years and 24 Years. The annual production amounts to 2.2 million litres.
The Bartender's Malt is a New Malt Order contest whereby 12 bartenders from five different countries selected the malt. The youngest in the mix is 6 years and the oldest more than 40. A whole range of casks from five different decades was used that might include the above mentioned Ex-Bourbon casks & Sherried Wood but also some Red Wine and German Oak casks.
Bartenders are used to mixing drinks and as such the high ABV and the Fruit of this Auchentoshan might appeal to them. As a Single Malt however I find I to be rather dull and also a bit too expensive for what it offers. It is said that there are some old Malts in this mix as well but the young sharp Spirit leads the way. I'm glad I only had a sample and I strongly suggest you follow my example before venturing in a full bottle.
Cheers! 🥃
Jan van den Ende August 14, 2025
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