Founded in 1800 and located just North of Glasgow, Auchentoshan seems like
a distillery that could attract many tourists, but it has no facilities to accomodate
visitors. Too bad, because Auchentoshan has an interesting 'feature': Just like most
other Lowland whiskies, Auchentoshan is triple distilled - as opposed to the 'normal'
double distillation that's customary in other regions. According to the label text on
the 10yo, 'triple-distillation gives ... a very light and delicate character with a
sweetness and fruity flavour enjoyed even by those unaccustomed to fine malts'.

Auchentoshan is one of only three remaining (active) Lowland distilleries.
Together with Bladnoch and Glenkinchie it managed to escape the fate of fellow
Lowlanders like Inverleven, Kinclaith, Linlithgow, Ladyburn, Littlemill and Rosebank.

Auchentoshan NAS (40%, OB, Bottled 1980's, 5cl).
Nose: A hint of oil, not much else at first. Opens up a little with time, growing grainier.
Makes some evasive moves in the direction of malt and fruits but doesn't stay there.
Taste: Smooth and sweetish at first. Very slick, easily drinkable. A little malty and grainy.
Creamy and clean. Short, hot, woody finish. Maybe a light beer-like bitterness as well?
Score: 69 points - I guess I have to compliment the people at Auchentoshan on their remarkable consistency. Today they're making pretty much the same lifeless Lowlander they made two decades ago. I used to think all Lowlanders were supposed to taste like this, but over the years I've learnt that some time in a good cask can work miracles. This is a fine, accessible alternative for most blends, though.

Auchentoshan NAS 'Select' (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2002, code F391, 5cl)
Nose: Surprisingly nutty - just on the right side of oily. Fruity and a little flowery. Tea?
Soft maltiness.  Clean, but it seems to have more substance than the 10yo OB.
The second dram I poured from the 5cl bottle smelled much, much sweeter and fruitier.
Taste: Smooth and slightly oily. The center grows dry quickly. Gritty. Fairly short finish.
Very clean. I'd have to say that enjoyed the palate of the 10yo more. This lacks cohesion.
Score: 64 points - nothing too offensive, but this is just too light for my tastes. If you prefer your malts light and clean this just might be your thing. I imagine the Auchentoshan 'Select' could also be a good introduction to SMSW for those who are used to drink less 'noble' distillates like gin and wodka.

Auchentoshan NAS 'Three Wood' (43%, OB, bottled +/-1999, code L316/245H, 70cl)
(Matured in three different casks; American Bourbon, Spanish Oloroso Sherry and Pedro Ximenez).
Nose: Sweet with lots of sherry. A hint of smoke. Caramel? Wood and fruits too. Tobacco!
Whiff of peppermint. Sweet fruit cake. Organics. Salted peanuts. Spices. Playful.
The sherry takes some time to move to the foreground, but when it does it's magic.
It greatly increases the complexity and fruitiness of the nose. Good development!
Much more nose than the 10yo, even though it's triple-distilled as well.
Taste: Smooth start. Sherry. Sweet and smoky as well, but with a sourish dissonant.
Mint? Fruits. Wood. Liquorice root. Fried fish? Smoke and tannins in the dry, long finish.
Score: 82 points - the taste isn't too spectacular but the nose is simply wonderful. It's rich and expressive and shows a lot of the elements I love in older Aberlours, Macallans and Springbanks. Three times a lady...

Auchentoshan 10yo (40%, OB, bottled +/- 1993, code 5 010496 700815, 70cl)
Nose: Very light, oily bouquet. Almost grainy. A bit sharp and - dare I say - unimaginative.
Taste: Surprisingly supple; very smooth. Unfortunately, It seems to lack development.
Very much so, in fact; perhaps as a result of the triple-distillation. Too subtle for me.
Score: 68 points - the very first Lowlander I ever tried, and I wasn't too thrilled...

Auchentoshan 10yo (40%, OB, bottled +/- 2000, code 100/0000275/18, 70cl)
Nose: Phew. Seems very oily. Overcooked vegetables. Cannabis? Salted peanuts?
Fish? Noticeable improvement over time; the aroma's seem better 'integrated'.
Taste: Yuech! Oil. Cod liver and eucalyptus. Very smooth. Watery. Eucalyptus?
Faint chemical sweetness. Faint liquorice? Gritty in the finish - chalky like rhubarb.
Score: 58 points - this bottling seems far worse than my first batch! Distilled cod oil.

Auchentoshan 21yo 1970 (43%, OB, Bottled around 1991)
Nose: Very heavily sherried - a bit like a much more refined version of the 'three wood'.
Lovely fruityness. Antiquity. Big and polished with spices, organics and just a hint of glue.
The nose is extremely entertaining and never becomes boring. Rich and beautifully composed.
Taste: Fruity, sherried and woody on the palate as well. Coconut. What a lovely mouth feel.
It grows drier and smokier towards the relatively short finish - keeping it from a score in the 90's.
Score: 89 points - making it officially the very best Auchentoshan I've tried in my life.
Great stuff. Actually, some traits reminded me of a '2000' batch of the Springer 21yo...
This is by far the very best Auchentoshan I ever tried - thanks, Serge!
 
 
 

Hmmm... That's one way of putting it, I guess.
'A single malt for blend drinkers' would be another...
If you're drinking single malt whisky because you like a drink with
more character and personality than the average blend you have
no business with the 'standard' Auchentoshan 10yo, if you ask me.
And if you don't care about individuality and style you might as
well save yourself some money and stick to blends...

But hey, that's just my opinion. If this is the way you like your
whiskies, feel free to enjoy them as much as you possibly can.
That being said, I like the Auchentoshan 'Three Wood' a lot and
I've heard some great things about some older expressions.

Anyway - let's get back to the historical facts.
Auchentoshan was rebuilt after WWII and aquired by Eadie Cairns
in 1969. After another refitting in 1974 the predecessors of current
owners Morrison Bowmore (now controlled by Suntory from Japan)
bought the distillery in the 1980's. They already owned Bowmore
on Islay and Glen Garioch  in the Highlands so this move made
perfect sense. One thing's certain: they know how to market
their whiskies at Suntory. Bowmore and Auchentoshan are
both among the 'commercial' winners in their own regions.

Trivia about Auchentoshan: For a long time Auchentoshan didn't have a visitor's centre.
That has now changed - and according to reports from fellow malt maniac Peter Silver it's great.
Given their location near Glasgow and the fact that Auchentoshan is one of only three surviving Lowland distilleries (the nearby Glengoyne distillery considers itself a Highland distillery) they should attract plenty of visitors.

No other trivia about Auchentoshan available at the moment, I have to say...

Auchentoshan's core range currently consists of the 'Select' (NAS), 10yo and 'Three Wood'.