I loved Auchentoshan Valinch 2011. That doesn’t automatically mean I bought a bottle, but in this case I did. At the moment it wasn’t one of the smartest decisions of the year, but for not even € 40 I couldn’t pass up such a nice dram!

Therefore, I was wondering how this one would rate, especially when tasted just before a couple of punchy Bowmores! I expected the Valinch to be tasted before the Glen Garioch, but that one was such a gentle dram that it would’ve been overpowered.

Auchentoshan Valinch 2012 at Master of Malt

Sniff:
At first I only get dusty malt and barley. It definetly needs a couple of minutes to settle and open up. It’s pungent in a very spirity way. I knew it was young but this is REALLY young I think. Very untamed and definetly not as clean as I am used to from Auchentoshan. After a while I get some nutmeg, vanilla and oak chips.

Sip:
Dry and really sharp. Again very spirity, with lots of pepper and sweetness that isn’t as oaky as you’d expect.

Swallow:
The finish continues the pepper rampage but doesn’t do much apart from that. There is some sweetness and a hint of oak and vanilla, but not much else and you already have to search for these notes.

Weird stuff. It’s very young, untamed and incredibly sharp. Because of that you barely get any hints of anything. I get that the Valinch is a young dram, but I think this was made with too young whisky. Or, that’s the other option, they wanted to show what Auchentoshan is capable of apart from the gentle grassy Lowlands style.

Auchentoshan Valinch 2012, 57.2%, OB, Available from Master or Malt for £ 36.88

Sample provided by Morrison Bowmore and Auchentoshan, Thanks guys!