One of two rum finishes in this month’s Outturn (a quick sample of 5.76 proving to be all of the high-ester rum and barely any perceptible Auchentoshan – though I have an incline that Phil might think differently). This Auchroisk spent 8 years in ex-bourbon before being moved into a refill Trinidadian rum barrel (which is much more likely to be Angostura than Caroni – especially at the price point). An odd choice which seems to have resulted in an odd whisky. Let’s see…
Nose: What?! Burn iron pans and dirty ovens sit with old leather car seats, roasted pecans and brandy snap biscuits. Stale cola joins rosehip cordial whilst rum and raisin ice cream is served atop apple crumble. The addition of water is no less absurd – Playdoh alongside lard spread over toast.
Taste: Copper piping, steely sheeting and fermenting beer. Still not in Kansas yet Dorothy. Gingerbread men and oak panelling sit with nettles whilst chilli-spiced apples and metholated oak are joined by car exhaust fumes. Reduction reveals cough syrup together with chainsaw oil, spent pan fats and a lemon and gooseberry fool.
Finish: Medium and cask-forward. Taut oak, char and lingering cinnamon spice.
Quite fun as a novelty, but in reality this is utter madness. You’re unlikely to taste anything quite like it all year – so in that sense, a dram at the Society is well worth your time - but a whole 70cl bottle of this daftness is probably 27 drams too many. Certainly entertaining, but hugely confused and rather aimless throughout.