Review #279: Auchentonshan 18 SMWS 5.70 "In the absence of convention"

Lowlands- NAS - NCF - NCA - $130 - 56.3%

Auchentoshan is one of a handful of Lowland distilleries currently operating in Scotland.  I haven't had all that much experience with their drams but the few I have had were underwhelming but potable.  This particular malt was bottled by Single Malt Whisky Society, everybody's favorite overpriced independent bottler. This particular bottle started out in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being finished for an undetermined amount of time in a first fill ex-sherry hogshead.

Color - Tawny

Nose -  Orange peel, caramel, ethanol, sandalwood, then it opens into raisins and caramelized wood 

Palate -  Bitter oranges, baking spices, chocolate - With water, oranges, and Christmas spices
Finish - Medium - Slightly bitter oranges, pepper, allspice, sandalwood, raisins, caramel, old wood, cocoa powder, a little hot - With water it is less complex, the heat goes away.

Overall -  4 -  The nose on this one is strange, there is this bitter orange peel thing going.  Then the more you nose it, the more brandy like it becomes.  I wouldn't say it is bad, it just is not my thing.  This is probably great for somebody else but it isn't my preferred style.  Now, I'll add some water and see if that helps.  The water helps but I just don't dig this bitter orange flavor.  I remember buying an orange pellagrino soda in Italy to help nurse a hangover.  I took a huge gulp and then was disgusted and horrified to discover it was actually bitter orange.  This whisky reminds me of that experience.  This whisky is has interesting flavors but like that Italian bitter orange soda, it is not for me.  It is not a drain pour but I thought about it before adding water.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.2

Standard Deviation 0.97

Skew 0..55

Kurtosis -0.29