Auchentoshan whisky distillery

Auchentoshan is the epitome of a Lowland whiskies. Auchentoshan distill their single malt whisky three times, rather than twice. Single Malts from Auchentoshan distillery are lighter and easier in character, with less mouthfeel and inherent sweetness. The Auchentoshan 12 years is a perfect entry into the Lowland whiskies.

Auchentoshan Whisky

The Auchentoshan Distillery is located on the outskirts of Glasgow. The name of the distillery derived from the Gaelic Achadh an Oisein means “corner of the field” and is pronounced “Och’ntosch’n”. Auchentoshan Single Malt is a light and mellow whisky, often described as a breakfast tipple. At Auchentoshan, the intensity of many Scottish single malts is exchanged for delicate flavours.

House style

How does Auchentoshan Single Malt taste? The distillery character of Auchentoshan is generally soft and mild. Frequently, sherry or wine barrels are used to transfer sweet and fruity flavors to the whisky.

Production of Auchentoshan whisky

How is Auchentoshan Whisky produced? The water for the production at Auchentoshan comes from the Kilpatrick Hills, the malt used is unpeated. Auchentoshan uses a mash tub made of stainless steel and seven washbacks of 35.000 l each, four wooden and three stainless steel. When fermentation is carried out, there are cereal, slightly nutty aromas, which are balanced by the later maturation. Distilled three times, in a 17.300 l Wash Still, an 8,000 l Intermediate Still and an 11,500 l fastidiating Spirit Still. Due to the triple distillation, the alcohol content in the New Make is at an extremely high 80% to 82%. Before the barrels are filled, it is reduced to about 63.5%, which is considered to be an ideal ripening strength. Most Scottish distilleries distilled their spirit at a lower alcohol strength and thus preserve more malt flavours in the distillate. For Auchentoshan, the path which is unusual for Scottish conditions, but the triple distillation has proved its worth. The triple distillation is a method more common within Irish Whisky.

Recommendations

Auchentoshan’s range of products is a 12-year-old Auchentoshan product range. This bottling was matured in former Bourbon and Sherry Casks and has taken on the pleasant aromas of both versions. Light caramel and orange notes wrap around the palate. However, the 12-year-old Auchentoshan retains the nutty-mildly basic character of the distillery and thus serves as an orientation and as a perfect example of a classic Lowland Malt whiskies. If you’re a fan of chocolaty aromas and dark fruits then you should definitely opt for the Auchentoshan Three Wood, on of their No Age Statement offerings. This excellent Auchentoshan does not have an age, but it matured in three different types of barrel. In addition to the classic bourbon barrels, two Sherry varieties were allowed to join in. The Pedro Ximenez Sherry left sweet notes of raisins in the whisky, while the dry Oloroso sherry is responsible for clear chocolate notes and dark fruits. A clear recommendation from us if you are looking for a sherry cask ripened Lowland Whisky.

History of Auchentoshan distillery

It is not entirely clear whether today’s Auchentoshan distillery emerged from the earlier Duntocher distillery, which has been in place since the beginning of the 19th. A century ago, whisky was produced on site. John Bulloch had founded this distillery and his grandson Archibald Bulloch later founded one of the country’s most important blending companies, Bulloch charging. As an official year of foundation, it is used in 1823. Auchentoshan was partially destroyed during World War II by German bomber attacks. The burnt whisky stocks ran into the river Clyde. Still today, the distillery pond, a former bomb crater, is reminisce of the devastating attack. It was not until the second world war in 1948 that the distillery was rebuilt. In 1974, a modernization followed and in 1984 Auchentoshan was overhauled for the last time, when Stanley P. Morrison bought the distillery. Until 1994, Auchentoshan was part of Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd.. The company was sold in 1994 to the Japanese company Suntory, a company with which a great many years of good relationship had already been established. Since 2017, the Morrison family has returned to the whisky production to Glasgow with its new project of the Clydeside Distillery. Auchentoshan today is the last of the old about 20 distilleries that previously produced whisky in and around Glasgow. The whitewashed distillery has a nice visitor centre. Here, visitors are proud of how Auchentoshan Whisky is made. Also, a tasting of the whisky is possible and can only be recommended.

Auchentoshan factsheet

Can I tour Auchentoshan?

Yes Auchentoshan distillery is tourable. On Trip Advisor the distillery has been rated as excellent by of tours to date. This gives Auchentoshan an overall rating of

Other distilleries in Lowlands

• Adelphi
• Ailsa Bay
• Annandale
• Bladnoch
• Borders
• Caledonian
• Cambus
• Cameronbridge
• Carsebridge
• Daftmill
• Dumbarton
• Edenmill

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