Auchroisk
"Rich and sumptuous": The Maclean Foundation launches 34-year-old Auchroisk to mark Pacific world record
maclean whisky
Auchroisk
A 34-year-old Speyside single malt is the latest charity bottling from The Maclean Foundation – and every bottle sold will provide clean water for life for at least one person in Madagascar.
This thirty-four-year-old single cask whisky, matured in virgin oak and bottled at a cask strength of 44.5% ABV, is the fourth in a series of single malt releases by the charity, which was founded by whisky writer Charles Maclean MBE and his three sons – world record-breaking ocean rowers Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean.
Just 248 bottles are available, exclusively via Royal Mile Whiskies, priced at £349. As with previous Maclean Foundation whiskies – with Ardnamurchan, Glen Scotia and Isle of Raasay – all profits will fund clean water projects in Madagascar through the charity's local partner, Feedback Madagascar.
Charles Maclean MBE, who selected the cask, described the whisky as: "Far and away the finest example of Auchroisk I have ever encountered – rich and sumptuous, sophisticated and multi-layered, entirely satisfying."
Flavour Notes
"A mellow nose-feel, profoundly rich. The initial impression is a combination of sweet and savoury – crème brulee and McCowan's Highland Toffee, backed by thick creamy notes with sandalwood sawdust. A soft and creamy mouthfeel and a sweet taste throughout, finishing slightly tart, long and gently warming with a faintly perfumed aftertaste of dried rose petals. Far and away the finest example of Auchroisk I have ever encountered."
The Cask
This exceptional whisky was filled on 15 August 1991 – six months before eldest brother Ewan was born – and matured for 34 years in virgin oak (Cask 572002). On the same day the brothers rowed into Cairns Marina to hundreds of cheering supporters, more than 10,000 miles away in Scotland this single cask was being bottled in tribute at Auld Bond Bottlers in Perth at natural cask strength of 44.5% ABV.
The Distillery
Auchroisk Distillery – located in Speyside – was built by Justerini & Brooks in 1974 and is now owned by Diageo. The distillery is known for producing high-quality single malt that forms an important component in blended whiskies, with limited single malt releases.
"We're proud to support the Foundation with this cask, who share our mission of improving access to clean water in communities. Water is our most important ingredient, but it is also a precious shared resource that is facing increasing pressure in many parts of the world. Real change comes through collective action, and the Maclean Foundation is showing just what working in partnership can achieve," said Ewan Andrew, President, Global Supply and Chief Sustainability Officer at Diageo.