WhiskyWitch
Auchentoshan American Oak
Single Malt — Lowlands, Scotland
Reviewed
June 13, 2020 (edited October 5, 2020)
My first lowland! Since it was basically between this and Glenkinchie, where the difference is like $50...
The nose on this is unlike anything I've smelled in a scotch whisky; fruity yet floral, with lychee and heavily perfumed rose petals. There is a distinct whiff of banana pudding that somehow blends naturally into the rest. This just may be the prettiest smelling whisky ever. It has the gentlest entry, like a breeze, very sweet, with coconut and vanilla cream, bananas foster topped with cinnamon, stopping just short of rum-like. It finishes with just the vaguest suggestion of grassy hay and lemony tea leaves.
The novelty wears off after a while though (probably the unusual coconut note), and I ended up using the last part of the bottle to make a few "Bobby Burns" a.k.a. the "Scottish Manhattan". I can't wait to try other lowlands though, particularly Ailsa Bay, if it ever decides to release a dedicated single malt stateside - or maybe just the Three Wood of this because the pickin's are quite slim.
35.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@CKarmios is right on that one. Three Wood is a very solid whisky and I'm also a fan of Bladnoch 15, but honestly the rest of the Lowlands I've tried have been unappealing, overpriced, or both. My understanding is that it's a grain-centric region that has fallen on hard times though, so it's understandable why its malt game is a bit lacking.
Three Wood is a profile outlier for Auchentoshan. Light and Delicate go out the window, replaced by Rich and Bold. A favourite.