Professional reviews
Serge Valentin (87)
This baby has been selected by our friend Luc Timmermans, so in theory, it should resemble a Glenfarclas. I wrote ‘in theory’…
Colour: white wine.
Nose: no fruity burst, rather an oily and grassy start, with some green tea and cigars (gotcha Luc), then rather tinned fruits, from guavas to peaches. Rather a textured Auchentoshan, without any excessive vanilla-ed oak. With water: floral! Rose petals and, well, gewürztraminer. Rather Luc indeed.
Mouth (neat): it’s one of those Auchentoshans that have got an Irish side, with passion fruits and mentholated bananas (?!) at first, then more grassy teas and leaves and peelings. All that rather works in sync, I have to say. With water: a grassier Bushmills of some sort.
Finish: medium, fruity and leafy. Don’t I find kiwis now?
Comments: an excellent good, clean, and yet complex old Auchentoshan. And above everything, there’s little vanilla!
Words of Whisky (84)
Nose: Soft and gentle vanilla sweetness and dusty oak, but also straw. Milk chocolate and subtle fruits. Peach with a whiff of lime.
Taste: Some bitter oak and mild spices (cloves), accompanied by light notes of honey and linseed oil. Traces of underripe banana peel and pear.
Finish: Gentle yellow fruits. Finally somewhat grassy. Medium in length.
BOW (88)
Auchentoshan 24 Years Old: The Duchess Shieldmaiden Ylva is a whisky that invites you on a journey—a Lowland single malt crafted with the finesse that Auchentoshan is known for and bottled by The Duchess, a Dutch independent label celebrated for its exquisite releases. This expression, part of the Shieldmaiden Series, was bottled in 2014 and represents the artistry of time, matured for 24 years in a bourbon cask and selected by Luc Timmermans.
The Duchess has built a reputation for uncovering rare and remarkable whiskies, and their Shieldmaiden Series pays tribute to the strength and resilience of Viking shieldmaidens. The Auchentoshan 24 Years Old exemplifies this ethos, a whisky shaped by decades of maturation, offering layers of complexity and refinement. With this release, Luc Timmermans brings his expertise to a spirit that encapsulates the elegance and lightness of Lowland whiskies.
This bourbon-cask-aged expression offers a bouquet of tropical fruits—mango and pineapple—paired with honey, vanilla, and subtle floral notes. Its creamy palate reveals rich flavors of toffee, vanilla custard, and oak spice, culminating in a long finish with hints of citrus zest, oak, and sweetness.
Bottled at cask strength (51.5%), this limited-edition whisky is a treasure for collectors and connoisseurs. The Shieldmaiden Ylva is not just a whisky but a symbol of dedication to the craft, embodying the harmony between distiller and bottler. It’s a whisky to savor, a testament to the art of maturation, and a crown jewel for those fortunate enough to experience it.
Whisky Notes (82)
Nose: very natural, with varnished oak, sugared cereals and plenty of lemons and unripe pears. Greengages. Hints of vanilla and orange blossom. More honey and aniseed over time. Mouth: same feeling of natural whisky, almost like an eau-de-vie. A big dose of freshly sawn oak, apple peelings and grapefruits. A slightly bitter tang and chalky edge. Mint and grassy notes. Aniseed again, a little pepper. Finish: medium long, hints of grass and barley eau-de-vie.
Perhaps a little neutral for my taste, with a grassy and oaky signature. A fair price for a 20 years old whisky though
