Taster

Nose: Rich, resinous: coffee grounds, treacle toffee, Dundee cake, walnut, molasses, floral top notes.

Palate: Powerful. Oak, that treacle toffee again, spices, tobacco, Tunnock's caramel wafers, coffee cake. Good balance and feel.

Finish: Fairly dry.

Comment: Has held its own very well for such an allegedly light spirit. Mature and substantial.

Score: 8.3

Taster

Nose: Varnish. Shellac. Linseed oil. A French polisher's shop.

Palate: Thinnish. Drying. Wood shavings. Resin. Liquorice root. Opens with water. Soft liquorice.

Finish: Woody. Drying.

Comment: The chestnut colour betrays the time this whisky has spent in oak. I have tasted much woodier whiskies - but not oakier Auchentoshans.

Score: 7.8