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Auchentoshan distillery

Coordinates: 55°55′19″N 4°26′20″W / 55.922°N 4.439°W / 55.922; -4.439
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Auchentoshan
Region: Lowland
LocationDalmuir, Scotland
OwnerSuntory Global Spirits
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]

Auchentoshan distillery (/ˌɒxənˈtɒʃən/ OKH-ən-TOSH-ən) is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dalmuir, Scotland.[4]: 15 

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 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 Lochlea Distillery, Glenkinchie and recently Daftmill Distillery, Annandale Distillery and Ailsa Bay Distillery.

History

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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 including Auchentoshan distillery.[4]

In May 2014, Beam Inc. and Suntory Holdings Limited merged to create Suntory Global Spirits, who are now the owners of Auchentoshan and other Morrison Bowmore holdings.[9]

Production

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Unusually 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

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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

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Auchentoshan History Timeline". Auchentoshan.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Auchentoshan – Scotch Malt whisky distillery profile". MaltMadness.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch Whisky". TheWhiskyExchange.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Maclean, Charles (2017). Spirit of Place: Whisky Distilleries of Scotland. London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978-0711238916.
  5. ^ a b "Auchentoshan profile". WhiskyClassifieds.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  6. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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

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  • Robson, F (2006). "Auchentoshan – a single minded distillery". The Brewer & Distiller. 2 (11): 59–62. ISSN 1746-7152.
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55°55′19″N 4°26′20″W / 55.922°N 4.439°W / 55.922; -4.439

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