Auchentoshan 1998 Asta Morris Heritage 24 yo

 

 

 

54°

Distillery : Auchentoshan - Lowlands

Ex-Bourbon Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Asta Morris 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Let’s take a quick trip to Belgium, as that is where Asta Morris was founded in 2009, under the guidance of Bert Bruyneel, a whisky enthusiast. They release only a few bottlings a year, but they are of great quality. Here is an Auchentoshan of a respectable age, matured in a simple Bourbon cask, the ideal choice for exploring new horizons. 164 bottles were available for sale.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Immediately, a wonderful burst of fruit, further enhanced if you add a drop or two of water, mirabelle plum tart, very ripe yellow plums, bananas, juicy white grapes, Comice pears, Granny Smith apples. Alongside this, a good dose of melted butter, a hint of warm wax, cane sugar, untreated wood, caramelised pralines, a generous dash of vanilla, candied lemon. On the palate, the vanilla becomes more pronounced, it’s slightly less complex, but I detect a touch of exoticism, shortbread biscuits, candied chestnuts, almonds. The finish is long and powerful, which is surprising after such sweetness, very juicy, leavened bread, runny honey, a pinch of mandarin. The spices are very subtle overall, including nutmeg.  

 

In Short, 

I’m by no means an expert on this distillery, but it strikes me that this is a very successful and rather original whisky. It lacks the characteristics I’ve heard mentioned, the famous ‘chewing gum’ note, and the smooth, delicate character that comes from triple distillation. Instead, it has a lovely character, with plenty of fruit and richness, whilst remaining very well-balanced and approachable. A summer whisky that needs a few drops of water to really come into its own. You can still find it here and there, but at a price that’s hard to swallow. Perhaps scouring the auctions is still the best option. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                    Lizzy MacAlpine - The Light in the Painting

Caol Ila 2012 Asta Morris 7 yo

 

 

 

60°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Asta Morris 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

Asta Morris is a company founded in 2009 in Belgium by Bert Bruyneel. A hundred bottlings were carried out over time, before the company diversified into Rums, Gin and Armagnac. Here we have a young Caol Ila aged in a Sherry cask and sold in 524 copies. It's a Single Cask, but we don't know if it's reduced or cold filtered, it's a shame anyway.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A rather fruity first nose, on yellow plum, plantain banana, and even a little guava, then the smoke rises, fine ash which could fill an ashtray, finally it gains momentum, pear crumble, cooked cherries, a drop of fuel oil. Dusty iodine in the background. Discreet woodiness. Cocoa powder. In the mouth, the fruits stand out, on a layer of vanilla, and the robust spices, cumin, pepper, cardamom. At the end nutmeg dominates with small hints of chocolate. Tingling finish, long, on berries, humus, heather, bark, chestnut puree. As an after-glass, molasses and caramel.

 

In Short, 

I consulted Ruben's notes, and he rated it relatively low, because he thinks it doesn't smell enough of Sherry. Which is true, but for me it is a quality. In the other Sherry-aged Caol Ilas that I have tasted, the distillate loses some of its markers in the process. Here it is not the case, we have a nice balance between iodine, smoke and the Sherry fruits. In addition, the alcohol is really well integrated despite a dizzying rate. The final is really successful on this point. Finally, the quality-price ratio was really nice when it came out. I say "was", because now that it is sold out, it has become less interesting.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Soley - I'll Drown