Cigar Weekly

jazznut · 09-19-2008, 03:16 AM

I picked up a bottle of this to test-drive yesterday. Given the mixed reviews, I wasn't quite sure exactly what to expect. However, on initial acquaintance, I must say that I like it. The extra wood finishing (in Oloroso and then Pedro Ximénez casks) doesn't appear, to me, to overshadow the input from the malt, but rather complements. And it adds, strangely enough, another layer of 'maturity' to the overall effect, imbuing the whisky with those 'oiled furniture' notes one experiences in the more venerable bottlings (such as the 21-year old and vintage offerings) from this distillery. Quite a good value, too. What's more, I can easily see this spirit proving a fine match to many a medium-bodied cigar. "Well done," I say.

BigO · 09-19-2008, 03:50 AM

This sounds a lot like the Lagavulin DE, Doug. How do they compare? Price point?

SMOKINACTUARY · 09-19-2008, 05:13 AM

Auchentoshan is not peaty at all Jason. I haven't looked at the pricing recently but loved the 21year bottling. It may not be worth the price now, but it is delicious none the less.

(From what I can see the Lagavulin 16 is more expensive than the Auchentoshen Triple Wood)

jazznut · 09-19-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigO

How do they compare? Price point?

Entirely different beasts, Jason.

With the Lagavulin DE, the influence of the Pedro Ximénez wood acts as a direct foil to the peat and salt characteristics of the distillate, resulting in that 'yin-yang' effect I so often note in wood-finished single malts. This contrasting of flavour elements is especially noteworthy in the Lagavulin - not surprising given the tremendous Islay power of the spirit.

As for the Auchentoshan, the Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez finishing fits in with the rich Lowland maltiness of the whisky, and it's really hard to separate the two aspects - a good thing in my books. In fact, next to a 12-year old (Old Malt Cask) Rhône wine cask finished Glen Grant recently sampled, this Auchentoshan represents one of the best integrated wood-finished single malts I've tasted.

The price is excellent (aproximately $53CDN in Montreal) - FAR less expensive than the Lagavulin DE, which threatens the $99CDN mark in my neck of the woods.

Don't expect any Islay fireworks. Just be ready for an extremely pleasurable, richly malt-driven pour where the special cask treatment offers an additional complexity.

jazznut · 11-19-2008, 04:44 PM

I gave it the full-press evaluation this evening, and here's my tasting take on the Auchentoshan...

Auchentoshan Three Wood – 43%

Triple distilled and then exposed to three cycles of oak, consisting of maturation in ex-Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. A pronounced amber gold hue with a raw sienna cast. The voluptuous fragrance evokes sensations of orange blossom honey and raisins steeped in copper cookware, as well as scents of polished furniture. On the palate, an oily sweet overture leads to succulent malt infused with candied orange peel. The faintest hint of cloves lends velvety warmth. Sultanas seep from the pores of the oak. The whisky then glides toward spiced apple and citrus overtones, with simmering heat coating the perimeter of the palate. Notions of lemon custard and whisky-soaked bread pudding point the way toward the close, only to have the deft balancing of youthful vigour and Sherry wood influence bring a restorative resolution to the finale. This whisky momentarily reminds me of significantly older issues from the distillery, and is simply delicious! It certainly puts the lie to any generalizations concerning the lightness of Lowland Scotches.

Definite

!!

09-19-2008, 03:16 AM	#1
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	Auchentoshan Three Wood I picked up a bottle of this to test-drive yesterday. Given the mixed reviews, I wasn't quite sure exactly what to expect. However, on initial acquaintance, I must say that I like it. The extra wood finishing (in Oloroso and then Pedro Ximénez casks) doesn't appear, to me, to overshadow the input from the malt, but rather complements. And it adds, strangely enough, another layer of 'maturity' to the overall effect, imbuing the whisky with those 'oiled furniture' notes one experiences in the more venerable bottlings (such as the 21-year old and vintage offerings) from this distillery. Quite a good value, too. What's more, I can easily see this spirit proving a fine match to many a medium-bodied cigar. "Well done," I say. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!

09-19-2008, 03:50 AM	#2
BigO Publisher/Owner El Chefé BBQ Guru Herf God Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Atlanta. Posts: 55,765	This sounds a lot like the Lagavulin DE, Doug. How do they compare? Price point? __________________ Every time you think you've become too cynical, the world finds a way to teach you that the real problem is that you haven't become cynical enough Free speech is free speech is free speech. There is no qualifier. If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention. Never attribute malice to that what can be explained as stupidity. Unborn lives matter too.

09-19-2008, 05:13 AM	#3
SMOKINACTUARY Huge Cranium Herf God Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Highland Mills, NY Posts: 14,457	Auchentoshan is not peaty at all Jason. I haven't looked at the pricing recently but loved the 21year bottling. It may not be worth the price now, but it is delicious none the less. (From what I can see the Lagavulin 16 is more expensive than the Auchentoshen Triple Wood) __________________ ...the gas chambers of Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Maidanek were ultimately prepared not in some ministry or other in Berlin, but rather at the desks and in the lecture halls of nihilistic scientists and philosophers. - Viktor Frankl

11-19-2008, 04:44 PM	#5
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	I gave it the full-press evaluation this evening, and here's my tasting take on the Auchentoshan... Auchentoshan Three Wood – 43% Triple distilled and then exposed to three cycles of oak, consisting of maturation in ex-Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. A pronounced amber gold hue with a raw sienna cast. The voluptuous fragrance evokes sensations of orange blossom honey and raisins steeped in copper cookware, as well as scents of polished furniture. On the palate, an oily sweet overture leads to succulent malt infused with candied orange peel. The faintest hint of cloves lends velvety warmth. Sultanas seep from the pores of the oak. The whisky then glides toward spiced apple and citrus overtones, with simmering heat coating the perimeter of the palate. Notions of lemon custard and whisky-soaked bread pudding point the way toward the close, only to have the deft balancing of youthful vigour and Sherry wood influence bring a restorative resolution to the finale. This whisky momentarily reminds me of significantly older issues from the distillery, and is simply delicious! It certainly puts the lie to any generalizations concerning the lightness of Lowland Scotches. Definite !! __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!