Cadenhead's has recently reflated his own series Duthies and proposed, among several bottlings, three Auchentoshan (a 11 and a 19 yo besides this 16). To be perfectly honest, the Duthies often left us quite disappointed: we tasted an execrable Longrow 9yo sherried - it felt like biting a rotten ham - just as an unimpressive glen grant 13 yo. May this lowlander rehabilitate a little those series.
N: fresh, floral. Vanilla, which comes from the bourbon cask, stands out light after a while, nevertheless adding an enjoyable sweetness to a profile that is so characteristic of lowlanders and of Auchentoschan in particular. This is a flowering lawn. Slightly oily.
P: freshness again. Citrus rind? Overall, flavors are weak, but this malt is very drinkable. The floral and herbal notes still dominate in the palate: we feel fresh hay, maybe a little honey in the background. Hints of vanilla.
F: sweet, with bland floral notes. Nosing the empty glass you won't feel the oak wood, as usual, but a triumph of wetted herb.
The best attribute of this whisky is the nose experience, which is definitely delicate, maybe too much, but the floral variety of the fragances is absolutely seductive. This Duthies is less sweet if compared with the 12 yo OB, but we don't regret it: quite the opposite indeed, because the vegetal dimension of the Lowlands finds an easier way to seat on the throne. We recommend the review by Mark Dermul, a Toshan man, on this website: he is definitely better experienced...
Nice review, my Milanese friend! Thanks also for the kind words. I found this one rather boring and prefer the 19 Year Old from the same range.