Auchentoshan Three Wood

Top Score: 98/100 This is an outstanding single malt that truly shows the Lowland distillery's expertise in triple distillation and cask finishing. Aged in a mix of American bourbon, Spanish Oloroso sherry, and Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels, it offers a powerful punch of deep, sweet, and intricate tastes. It's a standout choice for anyone who loves sherry-forward spirits. Appearance The pour in the glass shines with a dark mahogany color, showing the effect of its significant time in sherry casks. The liquid coats the glass with thick, rich streaks, suggesting a full and smooth mouthfeel. Nose The aroma is a celebration of sherry scents, giving an intense and immediate wave of dried fruits like raisins, figs, and prunes. Dark chocolate, caramel, and a hint of coffee add layers of richness, while subtle hints of citrus peel, baking spices, and toasted nuts bring more complexity. The scent is rich and welcoming, a sign of the deliciousness to come. Palate This expression provides what might be the most vibrant and clear sherry character I've ever experienced in a spirit. Right from the start, the palate is flooded with dark fruit flavors—big raisins, cooked plums, and deep black cherries. Smooth caramel and molasses create a decadent sweetness, while touches of dark chocolate, cinnamon, and clove bring warmth and spice. The Pedro Ximénez cask finish adds a luxurious touch of sugary sweetness, perfectly matched by the drier, nuttier notes from the Oloroso sherry casks. A gentle layer of citrus zest adds a refreshing brightness to the robust flavor profile. Finish The finish is extended, opulent, and wonderfully satisfying. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, spiced fruitcake, and lightly charred oak gradually fade, leaving a gentle warmth and a faint trace of dried orange peel. The sherry influence stays strong throughout, a mark of the skilled cask selection and blending. Final Thoughts This is a sherry enthusiast's dream and a top example of sherry-cask maturation. Its capability to deliver such a lively, expressive sherry character without overpowering the spirit's inherent sweetness and complexity is exceptional. The triple distillation process provides a smooth refinement that perfectly complements the rich flavors from the cask finishes. For those seeking a spirit that proudly highlights sherry's impact, this one is unmatched. Its intricacy, harmony, and memorable taste make it one of the finest sherry-influenced spirits available, confirming its status as a true masterpiece.

Tawny colored. Couldn't check for legs because the tasting glass had a water-repellent coating. Nose: Red wine tannins, dark chocolate, raisins, and oranges. Palate: Light and dry mouthfeel. Mostly black pepper and chili peppers, some plum sweetness, and bitter extra dark chocolate. Finish: Medium length with a moderate ethanol burn. The chocolate gets a little sweeter and adds some walnut bitterness before ending with a wisp of smoke. With water: Opens up slightly with a drop of water, the peppery notes on the palate are tamed a bit allowing the others to come through more. A hint of salt on the finish. Overall: This is an easy sipper, but ultimately isn’t anything special. I won’t be rushing out to replace it once the bottle is empty.

Nosing: This offering is exceptionally aromatic. Triple distillation, followed by aging in bourbon, Spanish Oloroso Sherry, and finally Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks, imparts heavy fruity notes to this scotch. It's essentially a Christmas fruitcake in a glass. Immediately, there are notes of orange, lemon, dried apricot, and peach. Then, vanilla, burnt toffee, and mixed nuts emerge on the nose. Brandy and sherry undertones are also present. Tasting: A complex array of sugars coats the palate with caramel, toffee, and vanilla taking center stage. Maple and honey are present but subtle. The fruits noted during nosing are less prominent, though apricot and raisin are detectable. Other notes include semi-sweet chocolate and pepper. It's extremely complex and full of flavor with a very long finish. A fantastic scotch for the price. Overall: Nose - 4.5/5 Taste: 4.5/5 Overall: 4.5/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Friday Night Pour

This triple distillation’s gentleness brings to mind Irish whiskey, yet it still delivers a Scottish potency. Naturally, I was eager to open this triple wood expression, especially since I'm comparing it to a pour of the 12 year. Nose: Significantly fruitier than the 12, like strawberry jam, with bing cherries and whispers of scorched wood. Taste: Feels oily in the mouth, featuring blackberry and dark plums. The sweetness is better proportioned than the 12. Finish: Hints of hazelnuts and walnuts, with scorched oak. It fades slowly. Although it lacks an age statement, I've gathered its average age is around 14 years. You can sense it wasn't rushed. There's no harshness, and the flavors progress from fruity to nutty, much like a fine dessert. I'm a big fan of this distillery.

Auchentoshan is recognized for its triple distillation, and this expression combines that with maturation in three types of oak: Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry, and Pedro Ximenez Sherry. This blend creates sweetness, fruitiness, and oak complexity. The spirit appears young, with a light body, amber hue, and thin legs. Nose: honey, apple, cereal, and vanilla. It's sweet and fruity. Intriguing! Palate: this is where it falls short. The fruit flavors aren't very distinct. Sweetness is present, with brown sugar and some vanilla, but the complexity disappears. The lower alcohol content might be hindering the potential flavors. I'll revisit this one, as I've seen expert reviews mentioning chocolate and other notes. I'm keen to discover those flavors, so I'll give it another try. Cheers!

A multi-layered Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Auchentoshan Distillery in Scotland's Lowlands region, matured in three distinct cask types: initially in Bourbon barrels, then transferred to Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks, and finally finished in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. It greets you with an aromatic bouquet of nuts, stewed fruits, burnt toffee, orange, dates, and Sherry; its rich and complex character unfolds with notes of liqueur cherries, dark chocolate, maple syrup, marshmallow, dry malt, and ripe dark forest fruits; culminating in a long and warming finish with notes of thick dark treacle, oak, and green fruits. Bottling dates: June / October 2020 / May 2021 / July 2022