Auchentoshan distillery

Auchentoshan distillery (/ˌɒxənˈtɒʃən/ OKH-ən-TOSH-ən) is a single malt whisky distillery in the west of Scotland.[4]: 15 

Auchentoshan
Region: Lowland
LocationDalmuir
OwnerBeam Suntory
(Suntory)
Founded1823[1]
StatusOperational
Water sourceLoch Katrine (Production) & Loch Cochno (Cooling)[2]
No. of stills1 wash still[2]
1 middle still[2]
1 spirit still[2]
Capacity1,800,000 litres[2]
Websitehttp://www.auchentoshan.com/
Auchentoshan Single Malt
TypeSingle malt
Age(s)12 Years
18 Years
21 Years
Cask type(s)80% refill
20% First fill sherry wood
ABV40% – 43%[3]
Auchentoshan Classic
TypeSingle malt
Cask type(s)1st Fill Bourbon Cask
ABV40%[3]
Three Wood
TypeSingle Malt
Cask type(s)10 Years matured in American Bourbon with 1 year Oloroso finish and then 1 year Pedro Ximenez finish
ABV43%[3]

The name Auchentoshan is from Gaelic Achadh an Oisein (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [ˈaxəɣ ən̪ ˈɔʃɛɲ]) and translates as "corner of the field".[5][4] The distillery is also known as "Glasgow's Malt Whisky" due to its proximity to Glasgow and "the breakfast whisky" due to its sweet and delicate nature.[6] Auchentoshan is located at the foot of the Old Kilpatrick Hills on the outskirts of Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire near the Erskine Bridge.[4] It is one of six malt whisky distilleries in the Scottish Lowlands[7] along with Bladnoch, Glenkinchie and recently Daftmill Distillery, Annandale Distillery and Ailsa Bay Distillery.

History

The Auchentoshan distillery was built in 1823.[4][8] The original distillery was built by a corn merchant named John Bulloch and managed with his son.[4] Following their bankruptcy in 1834, the distillery was sold to Alexander Filshie, a local farmer and it remained under control of his family until 1877, following a bad harvest when it was sold again to several owners.[4] In 1877, the distillery was acquired by the Glasgow distillers John & George MacLachlan.[4] The area around the distillery was damaged during the Second World War and a bomb crater behind the distillery now acts as a pond for cooling water.[4] The distillery was bought by Eadie Cairns in 1969, who rebuilt it completely.[8] Cairns sold Auchentoshan to whisky blenders Stanley P Morrison (later to become Morrison Bowmore distillers) in 1984.[8][4] Suntory invested in Morrison Bowmore in 1989 and in 1994, they acquired 100% of its holdings.[4] In May 2014,[9] Beam Inc. and Suntory Holdings Limited merged to create Beam Suntory Inc, who are now the owners of Auchentoshan and other Morrison Bowmore holdings.

Production

Unusual for a Scottish distillery, Auchentoshan practices triple distillation.[10][4]: 16  The mash tun at the distillery is a modern stainless steel semi-Lauter mash tun, with a copper canopy.[4]: 15  Generally the final stage of Scotch whisky production involves distilling the fermented mash in two copper stills. In Auchentoshan, a third still (known as the "Intermediate Still") helps to give a final spirit strength of 81% ABV (162 proof).[10] This triple distillation, in addition to an unpeated malt,[5] gives Auchentoshan a more delicate and sweet flavour than many Scotch whiskies.[6] Maturation is mainly in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts, though some Auchentoshans will mature in French wine casks.[11]

Special bottlings are released periodically, including the oldest, a 50-year-old Auchentoshan distilled in 1957 and released in 2008.[12] The distillery has a visitor centre and conference facilities, both completed in 2005, and is open to the public for tours every day of the week.

Awards and reviews

Auchentoshan offerings have performed well at international spirit ratings competitions. Its 16- and 18-year scotches received double gold medals at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.[13][14] The Auchentoshan Three Wood expression won "the best Scotch Whisky and Cigar Combination" in the world when paired with the Bolivar Inmensas.[15]

The Fermentation Tanks
The copper pot stills
Barrels in Auchentoshan distillery

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Auchentoshan History Timeline". Auchentoshan.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  2. "Auchentoshan – Scotch Malt whisky distillery profile". MaltMadness.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  3. "Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch Whisky". TheWhiskyExchange.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  4. Maclean, Charles (2017). Spirit of Place: Whisky Distilleries of Scotland. London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978-0711238916.
  5. "Auchentoshan profile". WhiskyClassifieds.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  6. "Auchentoshan Tasting Notes". masterofmalt.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  7. "The Whisky Barrel – Lowland Malts". TheWhiskyBarrel.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  8. Helen Arthur (2002) [1997]. The single malt companion (in Dutch). Lisbeth Machielsen (trans.). Libero. p. 62. ISBN 978-9057642364.
  9. Beam Suntory Inc. "News Release". suntory.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  10. "Distillery | Auchentoshan". Auchentoshan.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  11. "Auchentoshan 17 Year Old Bordeaux Wine Cask Finish". masterofmalt.com. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  12. "Auchentoshan 1957/50 Year old/Sherry Cask". TheWhiskyExchange.com. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  13. "Auchentoshan 16 Year Scotch Summary Page". proof66.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  14. "Auchentoshan 18 Year Sherry Scotch Summary Page". proof66.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  15. "Scottish distilleries - Auchentoshan". stilnovisti.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.

Bibliography
  • Robson, F (2006). "Auchentoshan – a single minded distillery". The Brewer & Distiller. 2 (11): 59–62. ISSN 1746-7152.

55.922°N 4.439°W / 55.922; -4.439

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