Auchentoshan Valinch 2011 Release

I have already tasted this whisky as i had a bottle from two years ago, when it was released. However, thinking that the Valinch series (without even mentioning the 2011 release) would be sold out by now, i found a 2011 release in a shop during my stay in Switzerland. I bought it for 43,90 euros, which i find excellent value for what is a very good "what-i-thought-was-discontinued" whisky.

Anyways this the second parter of my 2 weeks of christmas, which is a series i wanted to keep going but due to the hectic nature of the holidays, couldn't be done.

Let's revisit this modern classic..

Nose: A big unconventional limoncello/lemon rind meets the nose alongside it an "almost as big" bourbon-oak vanilla. The vanilla note is very complex but although it has vanilla cream as well as confectionary vanilla it is the vanilla pods that jump up at you. This hints to the high quality first-fill bourbon casks used, no doubt. Some barley-citrus notes with a delightful sweetness, a natural sweetness followed by some bitter wood-spices from the high-quality oak. Some mild spices and a more distinct camomile note, more "pure" herbal than "tea-ish".

Palate: High quality limoncello comes forward with the lemon rind in tandem as on the nose but this time with icing sugar, confectionary lemons (lemon drops) and lemon madeleine's (french fluffy vanilla-lemon cakes). Some baking spices: Cardamom and a slight cinnamon note, that camomile note appears again. The oak and vanilla take over for a while with vanilla cream first but leaving the scene for that florally vanilla pod note. Wood bitters and wood spices linger before some of that lemon rind comes back.

Finish: The limoncello note, lemon rind and bourbon-vanilla make up the finish as well as the overall character of this malt. It isn't the most complex whisky, but that is because it's complexity is not by design, it is by default. Meaning that it's big, "lemon-vanilla" rush, natural, cask strength firepower gives it enough natural complexity to give it a big mark in anyones book.

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