Review #317 - Cadenhead's Auchentoshan 11 Year
Part of the Cadenhead's 'Original Collection,' this 11 year old Auchentoshan single malt is a small batch product, as opposed to the single casks that we often see from independent bottlers. It was matured solely in ex-bourbon casks, and we get the quality presentation that's generally seen with Cadenhead's: 46% ABV, no chill filtering, and no added caramel coloring.
Auchentoshan is a distillery representing the Lowlands region, and it traditionally showcases the lighter, softer, brighter flavors that are associated with that region. It uses unpeated malted barley, and maturation takes place in a variety of cask types for their official bottlings. One of the Beam Suntory distilleries, it boasts a relatively large production capacity: well over 2 million liters of spirit per annum.
Cadenhead's Auchentoshan 11 Year
Scotland/Lowland - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 109 (2024)
Age Statement: 11 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon casks
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; bottled September 2021
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 2 months; bottles at 40% and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Bright and fresh, and it leans quite dry. There's some sharper oak and white pepper, even a spice similar to rye; with time, herbal elements grow stronger.
Palate: Citrus-forward on the palate, with lemon zest and juice. More sharp white pepper, as well as a freshly ground black pepper kick; herbal flavors waft in, like a freshly mown field. Mint and eucalyptus develop, and there's a hint of spiky youth. The mouthfeel is medium, with soft buttery texture.
Finish: Medium length or so, and the finish is quite drying. Sun-bleached oak, some dry vanilla, and more pepper; in the aftertaste, minty herbal notes linger.
Final Note: This definitely showcases that soft, light, herbal style that the Lowlands are traditionally known for. White pepper, lemon, and herbal notes were the dominant flavors, and it was somewhat drying overall - not much in the way of sweet flavors at any point.
The issue with this bottle, from our perspective, is the value proposition, which could be a localized issue, although prices online show it as even more expensive in other places. A relatively typical Auchentoshan whisky, not particularly old, and not bottled at cask strength - the price is too high.
Our Average Rating: 6.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.02
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Lowland single malt reviews:
Review #310 - Lagg Inaugural Release Batch 2
Review #281 - Glenkinchie 12 Year
