Auchroisk 2009/2019 Hepburns Choice 10 years old Rum Finish Single Cask Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%

Rum and Speyside are not an obvious pairing. The rum pulls the whisky towards molasses and baked banana, and that suits a spirit which already brings the fruit.

The Expert's Description

Auchroisk 2009/2019 Hepburns Choice 10 Years Old is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a rum cask and bottled at 46%. The cask gave 182 bottles, and the whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

A rum cask finish typically lasts from a few months to a couple of years. The rum’s sugarcane character lays molasses, brown sugar and baked fruit over the whisky’s own profile, without removing the underlying malt character.

Hepburns Choice is Hunter Laing’s range of single casks from younger whisky, often with a finish. Auchroisk was built in 1974 to supply malt for the J&B blend, and the distillery’s bright, citrus-driven style gives the rum cask something to work with.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweetness first, with molasses and brown sugar clearly to the fore. Vanilla, banana and a light citrus note from the spirit sit beneath.

Palate

Sweet and full. Molasses and baked banana open, then vanilla, a lightly spiced oak note and a dry close to the sweetness arrive. At 46% the body is good, and the whisky holds its balance.

Finish

Medium and sweet. Molasses, vanilla and a dry, lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Auchroisk 2009/2019 Hepburns Choice 10 Years Old Rum Finish Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Auchroisk
Bottler: Hunter Laing
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in a rum cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 182
Edition: Hepburns Choice

Flavour Profile

Rum Finish · Sweet · Molasses · Banana · Vanilla · Fruity

Did You Know?

Hunter Laing was separated from Douglas Laing in 2013, when brothers Fred and Stewart Laing divided the firm between them after decades as partners. Fred took the cask stock and the independent bottlings with him, and in 2019 the family opened their own distillery, Ardnahoe, on Islay’s north-east coast.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Auchroisk 2009/2019 Hepburns Choice 10 Years Old Rum Finish Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%

What does rum finish mean?

That the whisky has completed its maturation in a cask that previously held rum. The period is typically short, months to a couple of years, and the aim is to lay on a new layer rather than change the whisky entirely.

What does a rum cask give?

Molasses, brown sugar, baked banana and a general sweetness. The character varies with the rum’s origin: a cask from Jamaica gives more fruit and funk than one from Guyana or Central America.

Why only 182 bottles?

Because the whisky comes from one single cask. After ten years and a finishing period there is nothing more left, and no more of this cask will be made.

What is Hepburns Choice?

A range from the independent bottling house Hunter Laing that focuses on younger single casks, often with a finish. All are bottled at 46% without chill filtration and without colouring.

What characterises Auchroisk?

A bright, citrus-driven Speyside style from a distillery built in 1974 for the J&B blend. The fruit in the spirit suits the rum’s sweetness well. See our full range of Speyside Whisky.

Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes, it is easy to get into. The sweetness from the rum cask makes it immediately approachable, and there is neither smoke nor heavy sherry to contend with.