Auchentoshan 10 years old

Auchentoshan is Gaelic for "corner of the field".  The distillery was first licensed in 1823 at the foot of the Kilpatrick hills.  Here it has witnessed the great ships of the Clyde, from sailing schooners such as the Cutty Sark to the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth II liners on their maiden voyages.  It was rebuilt in 1875, bombed in World War II, repaired in 1949, re-equipped in 1974, and refurbished in the late 1980s.

and Glenkinchie.  Several former lowland distilleries employed triple distillation, by which the output from the wash still is distilled twice more to produce a lighter, more refined spirit.  Auchentoshan is the last distillery to use this method, and hence its whisky is called the "Lowland Malt".

Its process water is supplied from Loch Katrine and its cooling water is collected in a WW2 bomb crater in the hills.  It uses unpeated malt supplied to order, and operates a copper-topped stainless steel mash tun, 4 Oregon pine washbacks, and 3 stills.  The spirit emerges from the wash still at 18% alcohol, at 54% from the intermediate still, and at 81% from the spirit still.  The intermediate still is charged with low wines from the wash still and removes most of the feints before being distilled for a third time in the spirit still – the result is an output from the spirit still that is the highest strength in Scotland.  The whisky is matured in a mixture of American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks, including some Oloroso and Pedro-Jimenez casks that are specially prepared in Spain.

Flavour Profile Body 0 Sweetness 2 Smoky 0 Medicinal 0 Tobacco 0 Honey 1 Spicy 1 Winey 0 Nutty 2 Malty 2 Fruity 3 Floral 3

Auchentoshan Lowland Single Malt whisky is available at 10 years old (profiled), and as Auchentoshan Select (no age statement).  Other bottlings are at 21, 22, 25 and 31 years old, a "Three Wood" edition with no age statement matured in American bourbon hogsheads, Oloroso sherry and Pedro-Jimenez sherry butts and a cask strength 18 years old vintage 1978.  The malts have won several awards in international competitions.

The distillery does not at present have a visitor centre but hopes to open one soon, and tours are available by appointment.