Auchroisk 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 years old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%

Bordeaux casks are not common in whisky. They give something entirely different from sherry, more berry, more acidity and a dry tannic edge that a Speyside rarely comes near.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured for fourteen years in a Bordeaux cask and bottled at 46%. It is number 25 in Mossburn’s Vintage Casks range and is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

Red wine casks from Bordeaux have been used by several bottlers in recent years, because they add red berries and a dry tannic structure instead of sherry’s dried fruit. The effect requires a spirit with the right lightness, as the tannins can quickly take over.

Auchroisk’s bright, citrus-driven style suits that exercise well. The distillery was built in 1974 to supply malt for the J&B blend, and official bottlings are rare, so independent casks like this one are the usual way in.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Red berries first, with cherry and raspberry clearly to the fore. Vanilla and apple from the spirit sit beneath, and there is a dry, lightly tart note from the wine cask.

Palate

Fruity and dry at once. Red berries and a little marzipan open, then citrus, white pepper and a dry tannic edge arrive. At 46% the body is good, and the whisky holds its freshness all the way.

Finish

Medium and dry. Berries, oak and a lightly bitter close from the tannins.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 Years Old Vintage Cask no. 25 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Mossburn Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bordeaux cask, cask no. 10.0407.30
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2021
Edition: Mossburn Vintage Casks No. 25
EAN no.: 5060033847329

Flavour Profile

Red Berries · Dry · Fruity · Wine Cask · Fresh · Tannic

Did You Know?

Mossburn Distillers sits under the Swedish Molson family’s investment company and has bottled whisky from other distilleries since 2015 while building its own at Torabhaig on the Isle of Skye. The Vintage Casks range is the house’s numbered series of single casks, where every bottle carries its own number in the sequence.

See our full range of Auchroisk

Frequently Asked Questions about Auchroisk 2007/2021 Mossburn 14 Years Old Vintage Cask no. 25 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%

What does a Bordeaux cask do to whisky?

It gives red berries, a dry tannic structure and a light tartness that sherry casks do not contribute. The result is fresher and drier than sweet, and the colour often turns slightly pink.

Is that the same as a red wine finish?

Not quite. A finish typically means a few months to a couple of years in the final cask. Here the whisky has spent its maturation in the Bordeaux cask, which gives a more integrated wine character.

What does non-chill filtered mean?

That the whisky has not been chilled and filtered to remove the fatty acids that can make it cloudy with water. Filtration also removes flavour compounds, so many independent bottlers skip it.

Who are Mossburn?

A bottling house founded in 2015 that simultaneously built the Torabhaig distillery on the Isle of Skye. Vintage Casks is their numbered range of single casks from other distilleries.

What characterises Auchroisk?

A bright, citrus-driven Speyside style from a distillery built in 1974 for the J&B blend. That lightness makes it well suited to an active cask like this one. See our full range of Speyside Whisky.

Does it work with food?

The berries and the tannic edge make it more flexible than a sweet sherried whisky. Try it with a strong cheese or with dark chocolate at a high cocoa percentage.