Auchentoshan Three Wood

I believe this is my first Auchentoshan review (though I have had 3 others in the past, I did not write about them). I know some who can't stand Auchentoshans, but I don't know why - I've found some interesting variety between the ones I've had - subtle but notable differences.

Auchentoshan is a triple distilled Scotch, which I suppose may be an Irish influence. The distillery was almost destroyed by the blitz during WWII, and in fact draws its cooling water from a pond in a giant bomb crater! This particular expression is matured in bourbon casks, and then finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, and it shows - the deep reddish brown colour is one of the deepest I've seen in a whisky. However, I'm sure there is added colouring in here - I have a 16 year old Auchentoshan, matured in sherry casks, whose natural colour is close to a light reisling.

The nose is deep sherry, cherry, caramel, dates, molasses. Very rich and satisfying.

In the mouth, more sherry, mocha, stewed prunes, but also an herbal, oaky malt underneath which cuts through the sweetness nicely. Some citrus in the background. Water seems to do tame the sweetness but does little else.

The finish is shorter than you would think. Dark maple syrup and more pronounced oak linger in the background. I don't love this one but it makes for a good after-dinner dram. I don't tend to like sweetness in whisky but this one doesn't go so far as to turn me off. I prefer the 1999 Bordeaux cask expression (if you wanted something approaching the Three Wood), but my favourite is the aforementioned 16 year old (bottled by Dewar Rattray), which is very rare.

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