I love this rum cask-finished Auchentoshan’s nickname “Guyana comes to Glasgow”. Still, I would much more like to introduce a whisky called “Peace comes to Kyiv” on my blog these days. Let’s all hope that there will soon be cause for a bottling with such a name; and – of course – that all those suffering from the horrors of war right now will remain strong and make it through these dire times. After tackling such a serious topic I do, admittedly, not know how to throw a brigde to a lighthearted topic like whisky. So I will make a clear cut here and proceed with my review now, hopefully providing some interesting information as well as some favourable distraction from the grim reality outside. “Guyana comes to Glasgow” is an 18-year-old single malt whisky from Auchentoshan Distillery on the outskirts of Glasgow. After 15 years in an ex-Bourbon barrel, this palatable Lowlander went on to spend another 3 years in an ex-Guyanese rum cask. The latter, it seems, was very active and alive during the extra-maturation: At times, it almost feels as if there’d be as much rum in the glas as there is whisky! Thus, I would first and foremost recommend this highly palatable single cask bottling from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society to all those of you who enjoy spirit made from sugar cane just as much (or almost as much) as spirit made from malted barley. If that is the case for you, you’d be in for a fun dram that is easy to sip on the one hand, but also offering quite a bit to brood upon on the other.

by Tobi

Eye: Bright and shining.
Nose: Oh, what a lovely sweetness! From the very first sniff onwards, the bouquet is strongly driven by the rum cask in which this 18-year-old Lowlander spent its last 3 years of slumber. Besides chewy raisins and juicy vanilla, there are also flowery scents, spicy whiffs, and oaky aromas. If you examine the fruit compartment more carefully, you will also sense peaches, lychees, pears, and mangoes – all drenched in a flood of molten white chocolate!
Palate: A creamy mouthfeel on the one side, a punchy whisky kick on the other. And in between, a rich pottpouri of sweet, fruity, fresh, and grassy flavors: There’s piña colada cocktails, peach slices, and peppermint leaves. There’s creme-topped scones, pomelo peel curls, and banana mash. And again the rum cask is not shy to show itself either!
Finish: The aftertaste lasts very long; and its quite expressive, too. Like the previous stages of the degustation, it bears a strong rum cask influence. Plus a somewhat exotic touch. Now, however, I find the offered notes to be a little heavier. My prime sensations include coconut flakes, banana split ice cream, vanilla-flavored baking powder, After Eight slices, and green tea as well as a handful of raisins and sultanas.

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Auchentoshan
Region: Scotland (Lowlands)
Age: 18 years
Alc. volume: 54.5 per cent
Cask type: Refill ex-Guyanese rum barrel finish
Code: 5.76
# of bottles: 189
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price range: ~115.00 Euro
More info: https://www.smws.com/ (Bottler)

*** I bought the bottle myself as a regular customer. ***