Established in 1823, Auchentoshan (pronounced Ock-un-tosh-un) Distillery is on the mainland of Scotland, situated on the A82 between Glasgow and Loch Lomond. This lowlands malt distillery rests at the foot of the Kilpatrick Hills, overlooking the famous River Clyde, once renowned as the Scottish gateway to the world.

The name Auchentoshan is from Gaelic Achadh an Oisein and translates as “corner of the field”. Auchentoshan 12 Years is the entry malt for the Auchentoshan distillery which is one of only 6 remaining Lowlands distilleries after the whisky market crash that caused a rash of distillery closures in 1983. Like many of the now defunct Lowlands distilleries, Auchentoshan practices a triple distillation which is a fairly common practice in Ireland, but much less so in Scotland where the majority of distilleries practice a 2x distillation.

This triple distillation method lead Auchentoshan to be a favored whisky among blenders because of its light blend able quality and the same quality.

Color: Copper

Nose: Nice aroma of malt, savory spices, fruit, butterscotch, overripe citrus and a general oily earthiness. It’s not super complex, but it has a nice weight to it that makes it come across as bold. The nose conjures spiced honey mead in a musty old barrel, what with its heavy, creamy sweet cereals and spice blend enmeshed in a certain earthiness. In contrast to that, the flavor is on the dry side, quite woody and tannin-heavy, with only a moderate malty sweetness to round it out, this seasoned with vanilla and ginger.

Palate: Similar to the nose the palate comes across oily and filled with notes of malt, overripe fruit, savory spice, butterscotch and brown butter along with a touch of vanilla and that same general oily earthiness. Tannins, a little sweet barley.

Finish: Medium/long length and malty with notes of buttered toast and toffee. . The finish is just as dry and gingery, with a long, lingering warmth. Good balance, round body and a heavy oily feel. Dry and very long, a little sweetness from the barley.

Overall: Auchentoshan 12 Years is a single malt with a pleasant amount of character. It’s completely enjoyable from first sniff to last sip. Is a nice oily malt and while it isn’t very complex it is a fun dram that’s easy to drink and full of character.