Auchroisk 13 Year (2006) SMWS 95.33 Full-bodied with a tannic grip

Scotch Whisky Review : Auchroisk 13 Year (2006) SMWS 95.33 Full-bodied with a tannic grip

Distillery: Auchroisk.

Bottler: SMWS.

Region: Speyside.

Age: 13 year. Distilled January 16, 2006. Bottled in 2019.

ABV: 58.1%.

Cask Number: 95.33.

Cask Type: 2nd fill ex-red wine barrique finish.

Price: A mystery courtesy of /u/b1uepenguin. You can see his take on this whisky on his website.

Color: 0.6, Old Gold.

Nose: It starts with a perfume-y vanilla note that is really powerful. It is rather dominant and the only thing else that comes through in the slightest is a bit of citrus and the slightest bit of lemongrass.

Palate: It drinks a touch warm at full strength. You get the perfume-y notes again, but more citrus based with a dash of vanilla instead of the other way around. Adding water cuts down on the perfume and you’re left with a lot of vanilla and citrus.

Finish: Medium in length. Vanilla again with some floral notes.

Guess: Scotland. Malt whisky. Lowland. Bladnoch. 10-15 years old. Ex-bourbon casks. 50-55% ABV. Probably SMWS.

Reveal: Auchroisk 13 Year (2006) SMWS 95.33 Full-bodied with a tannic grip.

Conclusion: This was only the second time I’ve had an Auchroisk and I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I really liked the Thompson Brothers bottling of Auchroisk I was able to try a while ago but I’ve been told that isn’t really representative of the distillery. This one comes off to me very much like a Lowlander in style. It’s light and fragrant with some perfume-y and floral notes. The citrus adds a nice and much needed bit of depth. Perhaps a few more years in the barrel would have given this more depth of flavor but it is nice enough as it is.

Rating: 77.

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Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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