Another of the Diageo releases from last year. Another stunner, according to the host of the evening. Earlier (I believe it was in 2010) there was a Diageo release of 25 years old which I really enjoyed, so I had high hopes for this one! There have been some indie Auchroisks as well that were rather stunning, also from refill sherry casks.

Usually a blenders whisky and I really don’t know how to pronounce the name correctly. According to the Whiskykoning himself, you have to spit most of it, make sure it’s just over one syllable and throw your head to the side. I’m not sure that covers it, though.

Auchroisk 30

Sniff:
Pretty sharp, especially for a thirty year old whisky. I get traces of fruit and sherry, rather dry with oatmeal crackers (bannoch bread, I recently learned) but also orange and a little sulphur (in a good way). Slightly bitter from the wood.

Sip:
There’s wood, quite a bit. Also some cracked black pepper and chilis. The European oak is rather pronounced and it certainly is dry and bitter, with hints of coffee and chocolate.

Swallow:
The finish is still sharp with orange and sherry hints. The bitterness from the palate is still here, but less pronounced.

To be honest, I didn’t really like this one. But you have to put that in perspective of the tasting. In many a line-up this would have shined, but between the Dalwhinnie and tomorrow’s Springbank 21 it just didn’t do it for me.

Anyway, I believe it was more or less the favourite of the evening if you only count whiskies that are still for sale. I saw someone buy a bottle and some other people would’ve if it fir their budget. Just as yesterday, though, this is too expensive for many, including myself.

Auchroisk 30, 54.7% – Diageo Premium 2012, € 325 at De Whiskykoning.