The Amazing Auchentoshan Vertical Tasting

As a follow up from the review on the Quaich Bar, SGwhisky is proud to present the wonderful Auchentoshan Vertical tasting that the wonderful people at the bar provided. As the Lowlands have been admittedly left out of this blog's reviews, it is perhaps fitting that at one go, 6 great expressions from this wonderful distillery are being covered.

Auchentoshan is one of the three remaining opened distilleries in the Lowland region of Scotland, along with Glenkinchie and Bladnoch. Opened in 1825, Auchentoshan also goes to great length to stress that their whiskies are Triple-Distilled, meaning that their spirit is distilled through stills three times instead of the industry standard two. The result, according to proponents of triple distillation, is a smoother whisky. If Auchentoshan is anything to go by, the smoothness is very much prevalent and a real defining feature in its whisky.

In Singapore, Auchentoshan is growing in stature, thanks in no small part to distributors Khoon and Joyce, who have actively marketed the joys of this easy drinking whisky, gaining it an almost cult like following amongst Singaporeans who prefer a lighter dram.

Enough said about the distillery though, let's get a tasting! The 6 whiskies that were tasted that day were the 12YO, the Auchentoshan Three Wood, 18YO, 21YO, 1978 Bourbon Cask and 1977 Sherry Cask. For the use of the bar, there was a nice sheet with tasting notes for the various whiskies, to aid any person who tries it.

L-R: Auchentoshan 12YO and Three Wood

Name: Auchentoshan 12YO

Distillery: Auchentoshan

Region: Lowland
Type: Single Malt Scotch

Age Statement: 12YO

Alc/Vol: 40%

This is arguably the classic Auchentoshan that tries to show what the triple-distilled, Lowland character of the malt is like. Interesting and very easy drinking!

Nose: Very light, floral with strong grassy notes. Notes of orange, toffee and caramel come through as well. Light and inviting indeed! (21)

Taste/Palate: Very light again with notes of nuttiness (light toasted almonds?), berry fruits and lime drops (21)

Finish: Light nuttiness which fades very fast (19)

Overall: A real Lowland-ish feel to it, pleasant and light (21) 82/100

Name: Auchentoshan Three Wood

Distillery: Auchentoshan

Region: Lowland
Type: Single Malt Scotch

Age Statement: Nil

Alc/Vol: 43%

A marriage of casks where Auchentoshan is first matured in Bourbon before being finished in Oloroso Sherry and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks.

Nose: Creamy, citrusy and grassy with lovely notes of malt and fruit and some brown sugar (molasses maybe). Slightest hint of raisins as well. (20)

Taste/Palate: Extremely sweet entry with a drying and buttery feel. The pleasant nuttiness with notes of sweetened blueberries shows that the classic notes of Auchentoshan are still there, with the sweetness of the Oloroso and PX coming in at the end with a rich sweetness. Very complex (23)

Finish: Lingering sweetness of fruits is complemented by the rich sherry sweetness and creamy butter (22)

Overall: Great mouth feel but the nose, despite all the notes, was a bit rough and not too harmonised (21) 86/100

L-R: Auchentoshan 18YO and 21YO

Name: Auchentoshan 18YO

Distillery: Auchentoshan

Region: Lowland
Type: Single Malt Scotch

Age Statement: 18YO

Alc/Vol: 43%

This was one of the stand out whiskies of the day, with a nose and finish to die for!

Nose: It is often said that whisky can evoke amazing memories and images due to how the aromas and tastes trigger an emotional reaction in a person. The nose here reminded me of the times I went with my parents to the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Clean rich fresh grassy notes with the clean fragrance of flowers. A little barley sweetness too. Simple, clean yet so powerful (23)

Taste/Palate: Sweet barley entry plays with a pleasant nuttness. The mouthwatering malt then gives way to cut fresh fruits and an amazing note of light white tea all playing on the tongue (22)

Finish: Refreshing, almost like after drinking clear spring water! Notes of the tea carry on, only this time it is more reminiscent of sweetened tea, complementing the ever present maltiness. Fantastic. (23)

Overall: A great dram. Simple, yet so powerful and classy in its own right (23) 91/100

Name: Auchentoshan 21YO

Distillery: Auchentoshan

Region: Lowland
Type: Single Malt Scotch

Age Statement: 21YO

Alc/Vol: 43%

An interesting Bourbon and Sherry matured whisky which is highly rated by whisky guru Jim Murray.

Nose: Classic grassy notes again with a hint of ripening berries (slightly tart yet sweetening up). Notes of orange peel as well (20)

Taste/Palate: A palate of summer fruits: Raspberries, sweet strawberries and rich ripe plums. Some honey and barley too (23)

Finish: Warming with honey and barley (this barley is everywhere! Or is it just my palate getting too used to it). Sweet cream comes in late in the game (21)

Overall: Nice-ish on the palate but the nose and the finish are slightly disappointing (21) 85/100

L-R: Auchentoshan 1977 Sherry and 1978 Bourbon

Name: Auchentoshan 1978 Bourbon

Distillery: Auchentoshan

Region: Lowland
Type: Single Malt Scotch

Age Statement: 30YO

Vintage: 1978

Bottle No: 058/480

Alc/Vol: 53.4%

This was the first of the two special vintages to round off the tasting. Hard to find yet highly regarded, this was one of the real treats of the day!

Nose: Vanilla and grassy notes take control with an amazing richness and creaminess. Clean and open, and inviting, amazing for a cask strength bottling at such a healthy alcoholic content (22)

Taste/Palate: So rich in flavour with sweet cream enveloping the mouth with notes of cooked green vegetables, stewed fruits and the ever present oakiness. Nice drying note comes in at the end (23)

Finish: Long, rich and complex. The richness of stewed fruits and barley dance side by side on the tongue with lovely oakiness and a drying cigar-ish note on the centre of the tongue. The ever present Auchentoshan grassiness is felt too. This is a masterpiece of flavour for a finish (25)

Overall: This has to be one of the standout drams from Auchentoshan in SGwhisky's opinion. Brilliant (23) 93/100

Name: Auchentoshan 1977 Sherry

Distillery: Auchentoshan

Region: Lowland
Type: Single Malt Scotch

Age Statement: 32YO

Vintage: 1977

Bottle No: 106/240

Alc/Vol: 49%

An even older and rarer 'toshan, a really great way to end off the tasting.

Nose: The ever present grassiness play with the Vanilla with the sherry influence coming in with notes of soaked raisins and cocoa (22)

Taste/Palate: Sweet entry of ripe red fruits like apples with a real drying mouthfeel. Cue rich milk chocolate and vanilla cream before the notes of fruit and rose florals hit the centre of the tongue. Very nicely layered (24)

Finish: Very very sweet with a real fresh fruit note, slightly estery though. Quite simple though (21)

Overall: Finish let it down a bit but the entry was something to behold. (22) 89/100

Auchentoshans Found at: Selected outlets like Auld Alliance and Fine Spirits @ La Maison Du Whisky. Principal retailers are Quaich Bar

SGwhisky would like to thank Khoon and Joyce for their wonderful hospitality and this great tasting!