Auchentoshan 12 Year Old, Bourbon & Oloroso Sherry Cask, 40%

The contrast here is easy to follow: a light, grassy and floral nose with yellow apple and honey gives way to mandarins and toffee on the palate. Honeysuckle adds another dimension, while the sweetness remains subtle. I’m drawn to the apple-and-honey side of that combination, though the shift toward citrus and toffee gives it more interest than a single sweet note would. The smooth, balanced finish keeps to the same gently sweet direction. My reservation is that the restrained sweetness may leave someone wanting a more pronounced palate. For my taste, though, this is a well-judged balance between fresh fruit and richer notes, with neither side crowding out the other.

Reviewed by BusstopRover

Nose

Light grassy and floral notes, Cereal, caramel, yellow apple and honey

Palate

Mandarins, toffee and honeysuckle, Subtle sweetness

Finish

Smooth and balanced, Gently sweet