Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Lowland Malt Whisky 43%

The name is pronounced roughly ock-un-tosh-un and is Gaelic for the corner of the field. That says something about how modest the site was when the distillery was built. Today the suburbs of Glasgow surround it.

The Expert's Description

Auchentoshan Three Wood is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in three cask types, bourbon casks, Oloroso sherry casks and Pedro Ximénez casks, and bottled at 43%. Combining the three gives a markedly more complex profile than the distillery’s brighter core expressions.

Auchentoshan distils everything three times, which gives a light, silky spirit with less oily body than a double distilled malt. That is precisely why the heavy sherry casks can be used so freely here: there is no forceful spirit character for the wood to fight against.

The order matters. The bourbon casks lay the foundation with vanilla and citrus, Oloroso adds nuts and dried fruit, and PX rounds things off with raisins and a thick sweetness. The distillery sits at Dalmuir outside Glasgow and was founded in 1823.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark fruit and raisins first, far fuller than you expect from a Lowland. Vanilla and citrus from the bourbon casks sit beneath, and there is a nutty tone from the Oloroso.

Palate

Full and sweet. Raisins, dates and toffee open, then nuts and a lightly spiced oak arrive. The triple distillation is still felt in the texture, which is softer than the sweetness would otherwise suggest. At 43% it drinks easily.

Finish

Medium and soft. Raisins, nuts and a final vanilla sweetness that lets go calmly.

Specifications

Name: Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Lowland Malt Whisky 43%
Distillery: Auchentoshan
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Three cask types: bourbon casks, Oloroso sherry casks and Pedro Ximénez casks
Distillation method: Triple distilled
Edition: Three Wood
EAN no.: 5011333150824

Flavour Profile

Sherry Matured · Sweet · Nutty · Soft · Dark Fruit · Vanilla

Did You Know?

Auchentoshan has been a landmark on the Scottish west coast for over a hundred and eighty years. The name is Gaelic for the corner of the field, which fitted precisely when the distillery was built in 1823, as it then stood in open country. Today Glasgow has grown out around it and the distillery sits within the city’s suburbs.

See our full range of Auchentoshan

Frequently Asked Questions about Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Lowland Malt Whisky 43%

What does Three Wood mean?

That the whisky has matured in three different cask types: first bourbon casks, then Oloroso sherry casks and finally Pedro Ximénez casks. Each gives its own layer, and the order decides how they stack on top of each other.

Is it sweet?

Yes, more so than most Lowland whiskies. PX casks are the sweetest sherry style and give raisins and a thick sweetness. The triple distillation keeps the texture light, however, so it never turns heavy.

What does triple distillation mean?

That the spirit is run through the stills three times rather than twice. It removes the heavier compounds and leaves a lighter, cleaner spirit. Auchentoshan is the only Scottish distillery that does this with its entire production.

How does it differ from the twelve year old?

The twelve is bright and fruity with bourbon and a little sherry. Three Wood is markedly darker and sweeter because of the PX casks. Same spirit, two entirely different expressions. See our full range of Lowland Whisky.

Does it work with dessert?

Yes, that is probably its best role. The raisins and toffee work well with dark chocolate or a classic fruit cake, and the sweetness makes it easier to serve after a meal than a dry whisky.

How is Auchentoshan pronounced?

Roughly ock-un-tosh-un. The name is Gaelic and means the corner of the field, which described the distillery’s setting when it was built in 1823.