Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch Whisky 18 Year Old 750ml

Situated at the foot of the Kilpatrick Hills in western Scotland, auchentoshan (pronounced aw-khen-tosh-an) distillery was founded in 1800 and is one of the last remaining lowland malt whisky distilleries. The distillery is nicknamed “Glasgow’s malt whisky” due to its proximity to Glasgow, and its whisky is nicknamed “Breakfast whisky” due to its sweet flavor and elegant texture.

Auchentoshan 18yo single malt scotch whisky is made from malted, optic barley that is gently kilned and completely unpeated. The barley is milled and mashed before being fermented in wooden washbacks made from Oregon pine. The wooden washbacks (as opposed to the stainless steel washbacks used at most distilleries) retain a portion of the heat produced during fermentation and ultimately produce a lighter and slightly sweeter whisky.

Following fermentation, the whisky is distilled. While scotch whisky is traditionally distilled twice, auchentoshan single malt scotch is distilled three times first through a wash still, then through an intermediate still, and finally, through a spirit still. This extra step during distillation no other major distillery uses an intermediate still is both time-consuming and expensive, but it produces a 160-proof whisky that is incredibly pure and free of impurities.

Following the third distillation, the whisky is brought down to barrel proof before being matured for 18 years in used bourbon casks. Before auchentoshan fills the used casks, however, the interiors of the barrels are set on fire, or re-charred, for up to a minute, opening up the grains and caramelizing the remaining sugars.

Nose:

Rife with toasty oak and vanilla spice. Chocolate cake and a lovely grassiness, damp, yet drying. Crystallized ginger.

Palate:

Toasty vanilla, dark nuttiness, chestnut perhaps, and something zesty, softening slightly after a time.

Finish:

A malty finish, with a little custard and fresh flowers.