First Editions Auchroisk 2010 11 Year Old, 46% ABV, Cost: £80, bottled 2022, one of 312 bottles from a bourbon barrel.
The First Editions range is part of Hunter Laing & Co. It offers good single malt, single barrel whiskies usually at 46% ABV but occasionally at cask strength. Price varies from £70 to £120+ depending on age and distillery. Overall, I’ve never had a poor First Edition, all have been very drinkable, although occasionally I’ve felt the whisky was somewhat overpriced and not offering good value.
Auchroisk was constructed in the early 1970’s with completion in 1974. It was built to supply malt whisky for the J&B blend (Justerini & Brookes) and is a significant component of it. J&B is currently owned by Diageo. J&B is the fifth best selling blend in the world with major markets in southern Europe.
Auchroisk is an “industrial” distillery producing over three million litres of pure alcohol per year and there is no visitor centre. It produces a light fruity spirit that is probably best enjoyed during the summer months. There is a 10 year old bottling as part of the Flora and Fauna series (£50, 43% ABV) but mostly it comes to market through independent bottlers.
The tasting took place in mid-January 2023 at the Green Man, Milwich. A pub with good beer and whisky! Although we’d had a couple of beers prior, it was not felt this affected the taste of the whisky.
I’m a fan of Auchroisk, it’s a light, approachable, slightly sweet, fruity whisky that seems made to be matured in bourbon barrels. It certainly compliments, and evokes, sitting in the garden on a summer evening. Its biggest negative is it is too drinkable, and slightly too spicy to act as the perfect “palate trainer” or “starting whisky” if part of a whisky flight. Maybe as the second whisky would be better?
Overall, the description on the bottle label reflects what the two tasters experienced, although both of us missed detecting almond flavours and differed in the emphasis to apply to the various characteristics. This is not unusual or unexpected as “tasting” is a personal experience and can be influenced by a variety of factors which we will discuss in another post.
| Taster One – Luke Slater | Taster Two – Chris Walster |
| Colour | Colour |
| Blonde | Straw |
| Nose | Nose |
| Caramel | Vanilla and fruit |
| Palate | Palate |
| Fruity – orange rind | Fruit & Christmas Cake |
| Finish | Finish |
| Fruit and Christmas Cake | Reasonably long Christmas cake & spice |
| Overall (Star Rating) | Overall (Star Rating) |
| 3/5 Stars 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 | 4/5 Stars🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 |
Overall: 3.5 Stars 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
