Review #626 - Single Cask Nation Auchroisk 11 Year Single Cask
Based in Moray, Speyside, Auchroisk isn't a new distillery in the context of the last 20 years, but it's still relatively young in the scheme of existing Scottish distilleries - it began production in 1974, just over 50 years ago now. It's a large operation with a theoretical capacity of just under 6 million liters per annum; most of that production, though, goes into Diageo blends, especially J&B Rare.
This single cask from independent bottler Single Cask Nation was aged for a total of 11 years; the bulk of that time was spent in an ex-bourbon barrel, though a 3 year finish in an Oloroso sherry hogshead (Spanish oak) was employed to add more punchy flavors.
Single Cask Nation Auchroisk 11 Year Single Cask
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Price: USD 120 (2025)
Age Statement: 11 Years
Strength: 56.7% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon, finished in a first fill Spanish oak Oloroso sherry hogshead
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask 302132, distilled September 2012, bottled May 2024; 191 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: A bit oaky to start, but we get interesting vegetal and floral notes to go along with it. Oak tannins and clove add a spicy element, but behind that, we get fruits: soft stone fruit like peach, but also dark purple stewed fruits from the sherry. A mild wood polish scent lingers.
Palate: Strong sherry flavor: tart orange, prunes, quite juicy but also acidic. A decent oak presence brings some wood smoke along with it, and the background holds an earthy flavor; it's a medium-thick mouthfeel.
Finish: Acidic dark fruits - plum, prune - and some tannins add a mild bitterness. Clove and oak grow in intensity, and it's a relatively long finish, especially with that spirit strength adding some warmth.
Final Note: Quite a unique profile to start with those floral and vegetal scents, which almost feel at odds with the sherry maturation. There is a stronger oak influence overall, courtesy of that first fill European oak cask; the fruity character was definitely present, but it wasn't overwhelming like you might expect from a whisky this color. Very good single malt, one that you can take some time and dig into due to how many layers it has.
Value is okay, around average. Single Cask Nation bottles tend not to be cheap, but they're generally backed up by a ton of flavor. That's the case here, too, and IBs like this are a great way to taste whisky from distilleries that might not generally be very accessible in official bottling form.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.08
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Auchroisk reviews:
Review #394 - SMWS 95.67 'Cosy with a Kick' - Auchroisk 16 Year
