The American Oak is the entry whisky into the single malt range of the Lowland distillery of Auchentoshan. It was launched in October 2014 with the idea to introduce new drinkers to Scotch whisky. The whisky has been matured exclusively in American white oak ex-bourbon casks. Auchentoshan translates as ‘corner of the field’ in the local Gaelic language.
Auchentoshan (pronounced ock-en-tosh-an) is the town of Clydebank. Until the recent craft distilling boom it was the nearest distillery to Glasgow. It was founded in 1823, although records shown a distillery called Duntocher operating nearby in the early 1800s. It is currently owned by Suntory Global Spirits. The production capacity is 2.5 million litres per year.
Auchentoshan is unique amongst Scottish whisky distilleries as they triple distil every drop of their spirit. Elsewhere in Scotland the common practice is to distil twice. Triple distillation is more commonly associated with Irish whiskeys. Triple distillation produces a new make spirit that is lighter and more delicate in flavour and higher in alcohol. As a result, Auchentoshan has the highest strength of new make in Scotland at 81.5% ABV.
The Auchentoshan American Oak is bottled at 40% ABV and is available from selected supermarkets and specialist whisky retailers. A bottle should cost around £30.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is light gold and the nose is full of sweet and uplifting aromas. The sweetness is driven by aromas of vanilla and creamy caramel. Underneath are further aromas of peach, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut and a hint of lemon zest. A pinch of cocoa powder and maraschino cherry are also evident.
On the palate this whisky feels creamy and gentle. Initial notes of very good vanilla ice cream give way to soft chewy toffee and creamed coconut. Then come hints of hints of ripe peach and apricot, plus a suggestion of fresh pecan nuts. Further sweetness evolves and is reminiscent of creme caramel dessert, bold icing sugar and dried green apple. Underneath sits a lovely malted cereal note that becomes almost grassy and hay-like with time,. Some late fresh gingerbread, cinnamon and orange zest add depth and interest.
The finish is of decent length and the creaminess continues. There is plenty of cinnamon spice coming through, which sits alongside some confected icing sugar. A late peppery kick is refreshing and the freshly baked gingerbread is evident again.
What’s The Verdict?
Auchentoshan have done well with this whisky and it is a great example of good American oak ex-bourbon cask maturation. The vanilla-led creaminess and gentle spice make this whisky incredibly approachable and easy drinking. It balances sweetness, oakiness and fruitness superbly, so everything feels very complimentary. This is a fantastic bargain for £30 a bottle. You want to know how American oak varrels should taste, try this.
