Usually with whiskey of any type it is not uncommon to finish it in ex-wine barrels of one type or another in order to add more depth to its flavor profile. The time in these is typically just a few years, which makes it quite fascinating to learn that Auchentoshan, the only distillery in Scotland to continuously triple distill every single drop of its whisky, recently unveiled a limited edition expression that saw 17 years of such finish.

The Auchentoshan 1988 Wine Cask Finish is a 25-year-old bottling that was “initially matured for eight years in North American bourbon casks followed by an exceptionally long finish of 17 years in first fill wine barriques from Bordeaux.” This deep antique copper colored whisky clocks in at 47.6% ABV and not only is the longest from this distillery that has ever been finished, but is reportedly the longest wine finish ever in the industry as well.

Priced at almost $450 per bottle, this is a limited run of just 1,800 containers. Tasting notes from the distillery are below.

To the nose: On the nose, cinnamon-spiced plums, sweet black cherries and chocolate cream. Beneath the sweetness is the subtle earthiness of ginger root, dried tobacco, cocoa and roast chestnut.
To the tongue: The palate is supple and smooth with spicy oak tannins and a subtle chalkiness. Sweet cherries, plums skins and icing sugar develop with gently warming spices and burnt orange peel.
To the end: Ripe cherries, stony minerals and rich grapey-wine tannins linger into the finish.