Auchenstoshan Distillery |
|
| Region: Lowland | |
|---|---|
| Location | Dalmuir |
| Owner | Morrison Bowmore Distillers |
| Founded | 1823[1] |
| Status | Operational |
| Water source | Loch Katrine (Production) & Loch Cochno (Cooling) [2] |
| Number of stills | 1 wash still[2] 1 middle still[2] 1 spirit still[2] |
| Capacity | 1,800,000 litres[2] |
| Auchentoshan Single Malt | |
| Type | Single malt |
| Age(s) | 12 Years 18 Years 21 Years |
| Cask type(s) | 80% refill 20% First fill sherry wood |
| ABV | 40% – 43%[3] |
| Auchentoshan Classic | |
| Type | Single malt |
| Cask type(s) | 1st Fill Bourbon Cask |
| ABV | 40%[3] |
| Three Wood | |
| Type | Single Malt |
| Cask type(s) | 10 Years matured in American Bourbon with 1 year Oloroso finish and then 1 year Pedro Ximenez finish |
| ABV | 43%[3] |
Auchentoshan Distillery (pronounced Aw-khen-tosh-an) is a Single Malt whisky distillery in the west of Scotland. The name Auchentoshan is Gaelic and translates as "The corner of the field", the distillery is also known as "Glasgow's Malt Whisky" due to its close proximity to Glasgow and "the breakfast whisky" due to its sweet and delicate nature. Auchentoshan is located at the foot of the Kilpatrick hills on the outskirts of the city near the Erskine Bridge. It is one of five distilleries in the Scottish Lowlands[4] along with Bladnoch, Glenkinchie and recently Daftmill and Ailsa Bay. The distillery is situated on the outskirts of Clydebank in Dunbartonshire.
Unusually for a Scottish distillery, Auchentoshan practices triple distillation[5]. 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 gives a final spirit strength of 81% ABV (162 proof)[6]. This triple distillation, in addition to an unpeated malt[7], gives Auchentoshan a more delicate and sweet flavour than many Scotch Whiskies. Maturation is mainly in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts though some Auchentoshans will mature in French wine casks.[8].
Special bottlings are released periodically, including the oldest, a 50 year old Auchentoshan distilled in 1957 and released in 2008[9]. The distillery has a visitor centre and conference facilities, both completed in 2005, and is open to the public for tours everyday of the week.
Auchentoshan offerings have performed extraordinarily well at international spirit ratings competitions. Its 16- and 18- year scotches received double gold medals, for instance, at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.[10] The Auchentoshan Three Wood won "the best Scotch Whisky and Cigar Combination" in the World when paired with the Bolivar Inmensas.[11]