Auchroisk 10 years old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 43%

For decades this whisky went by a completely different name. Auchroisk was considered impossible to pronounce outside Scotland, so Diageo called it The Singleton instead. Only in 2001 was the distillery allowed to use its own name again, and it happened on this very bottle.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 10 Years Old Flora & Fauna is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43%. It belongs to the Flora & Fauna range, which United Distillers, today Diageo, launched in 1992 with 26 different single malts to show the differences between Scotland’s whisky regions.

Auchroisk was built in 1974 by Justerini & Brooks with one purpose: to supply malt for the J&B blend. The first single malt appeared in 1978, and from 1986 it was sold as The Singleton, because the name Auchroisk was judged too difficult for consumers outside Scotland. The name returned in 2001 with this very Flora & Fauna release.

Most bottles in the series are released at 43%, a few at cask strength, and some editions came in wooden boxes. For a number of Diageo distilleries that otherwise supply blends only, the series is the sole route to an official bottling.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Citrus-driven and fresh, with good weight. There is orange peel and a dry spiced note, and liquorice, tobacco and white pepper sit behind.

Palate

Fairly dry and spiced. Citrus opens, then salted caramel, nuts and pepper arrive. A little smoke mingles in the background. At 43% there is good body without weight.

Finish

Medium and dry. Orange peel, pepper and a lightly nutty close that lets go cleanly.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 10 Years Old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Diageo
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Flora & Fauna
EAN no.: 5000281016085

Flavour Profile

Citrus · Spiced · Dry · Nutty · Salted Caramel · Lightly Smoky

Did You Know?

The name Auchroisk is pronounced roughly orth-rusk. It was precisely that pronunciation which led the owners to rename the whisky The Singleton in 1986, on the view that consumers outside Scotland would not dare ask for it in a bar. Fifteen years later they went back to the original name, and it has been on the label ever since.

See our full range of Auchroisk
See our full range of Flora & Fauna

Frequently Asked Questions about Auchroisk 10 Years Old Flora & Fauna Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 43%

What is the Flora & Fauna range?

A series of originally 26 official single malts that United Distillers launched in 1992 to show the breadth of Scotland’s whisky regions. Each label carries an animal or plant from the area around the distillery. For several of the distilleries the series is the only official bottling.

Why was the whisky called The Singleton?

Because the name Auchroisk was judged too difficult to pronounce outside Scotland. From 1986 the whisky was sold as The Singleton, and only in 2001 did the original name return, with the Flora & Fauna release.

What characterises Auchroisk?

The distillery was built in 1974 to supply malt for the J&B blend, and the style is bright, citrus-driven and lightly spiced with a dry edge. It is a Speyside that sits further from sherry and closer to fruit and pepper.

Is it hard to find?

Flora & Fauna bottles are released in limited quantities, and for several of the distilleries no other official bottling exists. See our full range of Speyside Whisky.

Is 43% a good strength?

It is the standard for most bottles in the range and a sensible balance. There is more body than at 40%, and the whisky can be drunk neat without needing water.

What does the name Auchroisk mean?

It is Gaelic and refers to the ford across the red stream. The distillery sits by Dorie’s Well in Speyside, and the water source was one of the reasons the site was chosen in 1974.