Wemyss Autumn Berries Single Cask Scotch Review (1986)

By Richard Thomas

Rating: A-

Wemyss Autumn Berries Scotch

Autumn Berries,
a 26 year old scotch from
Wemyss’ Malts 2012 single malt, single cask line.
(Credit: Wemyss Malts)

Wemyss Malts made a subtle change in how they demarcated their single malt, single cask line of limited edition scotches with their 2012 release. Rather than use a straight aging statement, as in their previous single cask line, the new releases bore an aging statement based on the distillation date. Thus the Autumn Berries is labeled as a 1986, sort of like a wine vintage, and not as a 26 Year Old.

In all other respects, Autumn Berries is just like the prior expressions in Wemyss single malt line. It’s a limited edition, with only 268 bottles released. The whiskey was drawn from hogsheads coming out of Blair Athol Distillery, one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland. As a 26 Year Old, Autumn Berries is quite distinct from Blair Athol’s own single malt line, which is merely a 12 Year Old. Finally, it was bottled at 46% abv. These three features — small releases, the release of something distinctive and far older than the usual from the distillery of origin, and abv — are signature characteristics of Wemyss’ single malts.

The Scotch
In the glass, the Autumn Berries has a pale gold color that reaches just a bit into translucence. The nose certainly imparts the namesake red fruits, along with a slightly nutty note, and undertones of oak and leather. Overall, I found the scent light and crisp.

The flavor also has a light character, so much so that it delves into delicateness. Woody, leathery, and fruity in equal measures, the taste has underlying notes of vanilla and nuttiness. On the palate, the whiskey’s flavor trails off into a lingering sagey spiciness. The finish starts off smooth and oily, before evolving into something a little citrusy, and finally trailing off into a sagey, spicy afterglow.

That Autumn Berries is a well-balanced and complex single malt is beyond question, and as an aperitif scotch I think its perfect. It is also delicate, perhaps too delicate for an approachable sipping whiskey. The same magnificent subtlety that makes it great also makes it a bit much for any but a true aficionado. That is why Autumn Berries receives an A-, rather than an A. I get the feeling that if I were sharing a bottle of this with others, even a group of serious scotch snobs, I would need to explain why I think it’s such a great whiskey. For a solid “A” grade or better, such explanations should not be necessary.

Price
Wemyss Autumn Berries is priced at £84.95, which converts to about $135.

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