The Singleton of Auchroisk 1976

Bought: Online Whisky Auction, 19^th June 2015

Ratings:
82.43/100 – Whiskybase (75cl version. Average from 9 member votes. My 5cl here)

These days we tend to think of ‘Singleton’ as a whisky from the Dufftown or Glen Ord distilleries but from 1986 until 2001 the name was used by the Auchroisk distillery to describe their single malt. The distillery was constructed between 1972 and 1974 so my bottle is an early example, being distilled in 1976. The intension behind Auchroisk was to provide malted whisky for the J&B blend (still its principal blend today) but it was soon discovered that the output made delicious single malt. The name ‘Singleton’ was only used because the distillery name was considered difficult to pronounce. ‘Oth-rusk’ doesn’t seem that difficult, not compared to some distilleries, which is probably why Auchroisk eventually dropped the use of ‘Singleton’.

The house style for Auchroisk whisky is sweet, fragrant, honey, medium-bodied with a hint of nuts and some smoke. The whisky is distilled in ex-bourbon casks and finished in ex-sherry casks if destined to become a single malt. Definitely a Speyside whisky worth trying!

Auchroisk 1993

Bought – Lincoln Whisky Shop, 4^th March 2014

Ratings:
80/100 – Malt Maniacs – average from 2 reviewers, one of which is:
78/100 – Whisky Fun (January 2009)

Again I have another example of a miniature by Gordon & MacPhail where they don’t mention when it was bottled but the 70cl version does. It seems this was bottled in 2008, so it’s at least a 14-year-old, possibly 15. Serge Valentin of Whisky Fun says it’s a “typical average Speysider, not really mindboggling but perfectly drinkable.” Since I love Speyside whisky, that sounds fine by me!

Keith Wood mentions in his comments on Malt Maniacs that there’s quite a long finish with redcurrants providing a slightly bitter aftertaste. I’ll have to watch out for that. It’s always nice when you find a non-cask strength whisky that has a long finish because you feel you’re getting more value from your dram.

Auchroisk 21-year-old

Bought – Whisky Broker, 29th November 2013

Ratings:
85/100 – Whiskybase (from one member vote)

Another bottle from the small, independent bottler The Whisky Broker. Details about this whisky from their website:

“This Speyside whisky, distilled on 17th December 1991 at Auchroisk Distillery, has been matured in oak casks for over 21 years.. On the 3rd June 2013, refill bourbon barrel numbers 102220 and 102221, were transferred into a second fill sherry hogshead (formerly containing Tomatin, sold on this website). The whisky was further matured until 28th October, when it was bottled at cask strength, aged 21 years.

This whisky has been lightly filtered to remove large particles of wood sediment from the cask, but may still contain small traces, which are visible only when bottle is left standing for a period of time.

Each bottle is individually numbered (mine is No.14 of 171).

Cask Details:
Refill Bourbon barrels 102220 & 102221
Distilled 17th December 1991
Bottled 28th October 2013
The cask yielded 171 bottles at a cask strength of 45.0% vol.”