Auchroisk 10 year old
Auchroisk 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna is a single malt Scotch whisky that is produced at the Auchroisk distillery located in the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery was established in 1972 by the drinks giant Diageo, and the Auchroisk 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna is part of a series of whiskies that were released in the late 1990s to showcase the various distilleries owned by Diageo.
The Auchroisk 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna is aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks for at least 10 years, which gives it a smooth, mellow flavor profile. On the nose, the whisky offers notes of honey, vanilla, and malted barley, with a hint of fresh fruit in the background. The palate is sweet and creamy, with flavors of caramel, toffee, and a touch of spice. The finish is long and warming.
One of the most distinctive features of Auchroisk 10 Year Old Flora & Fauna is its packaging. The bottle is adorned with a label that features an illustration of a bird, which is a nod to the local flora and fauna in the Speyside region. This attention to detail and the use of natural imagery is reflective of the distillery's commitment to sustainable production methods.
Auchroisk Distillery
Auchroisk distillery was built in 1972 by International Distillers & Vintners (IDV) with the intention of producing spirit destined for blends. The delicate and elegant palate of Auchroisk whisky became a very important component in the J&B blends.
When the whisky was released in 1986 it quickly became a favourite among writers and judges. For unknown reasons the whisky was never mass released. In a pioneering move, the 10 year old spirit was moved from ex-bourbon barrels to sherry casks for a further 2 year maturation period. What we now know as 'finishing' or even 'double maturation' was being done by Auchroisk without much fanfare back in the 1980's. It was Balvenie and Glenmorangie distilleries the ones that carried on with this ageing technique and eventually became regarded as the inventors of this process.
In 2001 the Singleton Auchroisk was pulled out from the market and today the closest thing to an official release is the Flora & Fauna bottling. The distillery's extensive grounds are used by Diageo as a warehousing complex.
