Auchroisk 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43%

The Discovery range is built like a textbook. Three profiles, bourbon, sherry and smoke, and the rest of the label keeps quiet. You have to work out for yourself what a bourbon cask does to a Speyside, and that is the whole point.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill and refill bourbon casks and bottled at 43%. It belongs to the bourbon category in the Discovery range, which highlights three fundamental whisky profiles.

Gordon & MacPhail is among Scotland’s oldest and most respected independent bottlers, and the Discovery range is the house’s entry point for anyone wanting to understand what the cask does. By using bourbon wood only, Auchroisk’s bright citrus-driven spirit is allowed to stand out clearly without sherry or smoke clouding the picture.

Auchroisk was built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks to supply malt for the J&B blend. The result here is a fresh, fruity whisky that works equally well for beginners and for experienced drinkers wanting to meet Speyside in its purest bourbon matured form.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla first, followed by apple, lemon blossom and ripe bananas. A light pastry note runs beneath it all, along with a clean, fresh cereal character the bourbon casks have brought out rather than covered.

Palate

Lively notes of orange peel and black pepper open, then tropical fruit and a soft vanilla sweetness arrive. At 43% the body is good, and the whisky stays fresh all the way without turning thin.

Finish

Medium and rounded with oak and spice, where the citrus note lingers longest.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill and refill bourbon casks
Edition: Discovery Bourbon Cask Matured
EAN no.: 5020613094871

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Vanilla · Citrus · Tropical · Fresh · Spiced

Did You Know?

Gordon & MacPhail has been bottling whisky since 1895 and has spent decades holding casks from distilleries long since closed. The house is known for filling its own casks at the distilleries rather than buying finished whisky, which gives control over the wood from day one. That is why their oldest bottlings are so sought after.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Auchroisk 10 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Single Malt Scotch Whisky 43%

What is the Discovery range?

Gordon & MacPhail’s range built around three core profiles: bourbon, sherry and smoke. The idea is that tasting through all three teaches you what the cask type and the smoke each contribute. This bottle belongs to the bourbon profile.

What does a bourbon cask do to a Speyside?

It gives vanilla, coconut and bright fruit, and it lets the spirit’s own citrus character come through clearly. Sherry casks would have laid dark fruit over the top and hidden some of it.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes, that is exactly the point of the range. There is no smoke, no heavy sherry and no cask strength, just a clean, fruity Speyside at an approachable strength.

Who are Gordon & MacPhail?

One of Scotland’s oldest and most respected independent bottling houses, founded in Elgin in 1895. They are known for filling their own casks at the distilleries and for holding one of the country’s deepest stocks of old whisky.

What characterises Auchroisk?

A bright, citrus-driven and lightly spiced Speyside style. The distillery was built in 1974 to supply the J&B blend, and official bottlings are rare. See our full range of Speyside Whisky.

What do first fill and refill mean?

A first fill cask is used for the first time for Scotch whisky after its original contents and gives the most vanilla and colour. A refill cask has held whisky before and gives less. Using both provides cask character and room for the spirit alike.