Door 6 of the 2019 Boutique-y Whisky Advent Calendar offers Auchroisk 12 year old Batch 7. A relatively new Scottish distillery, Auchroisk was founded in 1972 by Justerini & Brooks to produce malt whisky to support their J&B blend. Bottled at 47.9%, if you’re a fan of the zombie genre you’ll love this Emily Chappell designed label.
Nose: Peach yoghurt and creamed rice sit with Comice pears, balled melon, kiwi fruit and green apples Running throughout, delicate grassiness and florals – hay and lilacs – alongside crème patisserie and crème brule and cookie dough. The addition of water reveals some fabric aromas from hessian together with coffee beans and toasted bread.
Taste: Brighter and more zesty – candied lemon peels, anise and pepper are softened by creamy fudge, milk covered cereals and barley water. The development adds toasted brioche buns alongside rolled pastry and a touch of mint leaf. Water adds further sweetness with sugar-dusted toffee, whilst also emphasising some deeper flavours – malt loaf, and over-baked ginger cake.
Finish: Medium with lemon peels, chopped almonds and freshly cut lawn.
Boutique-y’s Batch 7 Auchroisk offers a much more pleasant and easy-going ride than compared to its zombie apocalypse label. No shambling or yearning for brains here – this is bright, cheery and nicely formed. It also takes dilution well.