Auchentoshan Whisky Sample 9 Year Old Distillery Edition Port Cask Finish 2021 Release (30ml, 57.9%)

Auchentoshan Whisky Sample 9 Year Old Distillery Edition Port Cask Finish 2021 Release (30ml, 57.9%)

The Auchentoshan 9 Year Old Distillery Edition Port Cask Finish (Distilled 2012, Released 2021) is a rare glimpse into the "high-voltage" side of the Lowlands.

While the standard Auchentoshan 12 is often a gentle, 40% ABV "breakfast whisky," this distillery-exclusive was bottled at a massive 57.9% ABV. It represents a bold experiment in balancing the distillery's delicate, triple-distilled spirit against the heavy, winey influence of Port wood.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Vibrant and dessert-like. It opens with summer pudding, redcurrants, and raspberry jam. Because of the high ABV, there is a spicy prickle of black pepper and ginger, but it’s anchored by the classic Auchentoshan vanilla and citrus peel. As it breathes, a deeper note of milk chocolate and toasted hazelnuts emerges.

Palate: Intense and mouth-coating. The arrival is a surge of syrupy red grapes and honeyed malt. Mid-palate, the Port influence takes over with notes of plum, black cherry, and a hint of dark cocoa. The 57.9% strength provides a significant "fizz" on the tongue, bringing out cinnamon and oak spice that balances the berry sweetness.

Finish: Long and warming. It leaves a lingering dryness of grape tannins and dark chocolate, ending with a final, refreshing breath of lemon zest.

Why it's special

• The Triple Distillation Challenge: Auchentoshan distills to a very high strength (81% ABV), creating a light, ethereal spirit. This makes it incredibly easy to "overpower" with wood. This 9-year-old is a masterclass in timing—pulling the spirit from the Port cask at the exact moment the fruit was integrated but before the oak became too dominant.

• Cask Strength Rarity: It is rare to see official Auchentoshan at nearly 58%. This strength preserves the natural oils that are usually lost in their 40% bottlings, giving it a "chewy" texture that is highly unusual for a Lowland malt.

• The Port Influence: While Auchentoshan often uses Sherry (like the Three Wood), the use of Port Casks creates a "brighter" red fruit profile (think raspberries and currants) rather than the darker, nuttier raisins of Oloroso.