Auchentoshan Distillery, located near Glasgow in the Lowlands of Scotland, stands as the only Scottish whisky distillery that triple distills every drop of its spirit. While other producers like Springbank offer triple-distilled expressions (Hazelburn) and Benriach experiments with small-batch triple-distilled whisky, Auchentoshan remains unique in its commitment to this process across its entire range.
Historical records suggest that triple distillation was once standard practice among Lowland distilleries. When Alfred Barnard visited Auchentoshan in 1885, he documented only two stills in operation, leaving the exact transition date to triple distillation shrouded in mystery. The inspiration likely derived from Ireland, where triple distillation was prevalent throughout the 19th century, giving Irish distilleries a competitive edge with lighter, purer, and more stable spirits compared to the traditionally heavier Scotch whiskies. Indeed, Irish whiskey dominated British preferences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The distillery's triple distillation process involves a narrow cut of 82%-80% ABV, resulting in an exceptionally delicate new make spirit characterized by sweet, citrus, and malty notes. This refined character demands careful cask selection—overly active or heavy-handed casks could easily overwhelm the spirit's subtle profile. While first-fill bourbon barrels prove ideal, the distillery maintains an open approach to various cask types.
Production facilities include a semi-lauter mash tun with a 6.8-tonne capacity, four Oregon pine washbacks and three stainless steel washbacks (combined 38,000-liter capacity) with fermentation times ranging from 50 to 120 hours, and three copper pot stills: a wash still (17,500L), intermediate still (8,200L), and spirit still (11,500L). The 2019 production target was 10-15 tonnes of mash weekly, yielding approximately 1.5 million liters of new make spirit annually.
The core portfolio features American Oak (NAS, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels), 12-Year-Old, Three Woods, 18-Year-Old, and 21-Year-Old expressions. The travel retail exclusive Blood Oak (bourbon and red wine cask maturation) launched in 2015, replacing previous exclusives. The Noble Oak 24-Year-Old combines bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. Heartwood and Springwood expressions have recently returned to market. The Bartender's Malt limited edition, first released in summer 2017, saw its second iteration in 2018.
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