Auchentoshan Three Wood

Age: NAS Alcohol: 43% Paid: $65 Auchentoshan is a fresh and light spirit. Unfortunately by using extra “maturation” in really shit Oloroso and PX sherry casks, you get an unbalanced and, at times, unpleasant Three Wood. There are some good flavors in here. Some cherries, and dark chocolate sundae fudge with chestnuts and hazelnuts. But I can’t ignore the plastic and the Sulphur. It’s just bad sherry casks, bad cask storage, not enough maturation, or all three. It’s shameful to charge premium NAS prices for this. It’s not a terrible whisky; it’s worth maybe $30-40, but it’s priced at twice that, and I don’t see where the money went. The wood is garbage. It was shit that was going to be tossed anyways. It’s obvious. Reminds me somewhat of Laphroaig Three Wood, except that was salvaged by an intriguing play with the medicinal Laphroaig peat. This is a sad whisky by a sad distillery. MARK: 75/100. Not recommended.

This is my favorite Scotch so far. It is an enchanted forest in a glass. The nose has black cherries and plums with raw sugar and a hint of chocolate (reminiscent of Black Forest cake). The palate proceeds with the notes from the nose but also earthy wood and tree nuts. The finish is an old forgotten library with dusty, leather bound books and old oak shelves while the cherries linger. It all stays with you and slowly fades like a pleasant dreams coming to an end. Magic.