Auchentoshan 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky
Auchentoshan 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky is the Lowlands' signature style in a glass — 40% ABV (80 proof), 750mL, a single malt that is triple-distilled, every last drop, then matured over twelve years in a combination of American bourbon casks and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. Auchentoshan, founded in 1823 just outside Glasgow in Clydebank, distills its unpeated barley three times to an unusually high spirit strength, which is why the 12 Year Old pours golden honey-sweet and delicate: creme brulee, citrus, toasted almond and a gingery finish. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 12 years
- Aging: American bourbon casks and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks
- Origin: Clydebank, Lowland, Scotland — Auchentoshan Distillery (est. 1823)
- Production: Triple-distilled (unusual for Scotch) from unpeated malted barley
Distilled Different: Three Times
Scotland distills twice; Auchentoshan distills three times, using an intermediate still to take the spirit to roughly 81–82% ABV before casking. That extra pass strips out the heavier oils and leaves the lightest, most citrus-led new make in Scotch — then twelve years split between bourbon wood and Oloroso sherry casks layer creme brulee, tangerine and toasted nuts over it. It is the Lowland style at its most approachable, and a gentle first step into our Scotch whisky collection; find the distillery's other expressions at Auchentoshan and more in the whisky range.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Creme brulee, a burst of citrus, toasted almond and green leafiness over caramelised toffee. Palate: Smooth and sweet — tangerine and lime with hazelnut and vanilla. Finish: Gingery, slightly drying, with lingering nuttiness.
How to Enjoy
Neat is the distillery's serve — the delicacy is the point — and its citrus-and-ginger profile also shines in a highball with plenty of ice and a lemon twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Auchentoshan taste lighter than other Scotch? Triple distillation: a third pass through an intermediate still produces a higher-strength, lighter spirit than the double distillation used almost everywhere else in Scotland.
Is Auchentoshan 12 peated? No — it is made from unpeated malted barley; its character is citrus, toffee and nuts, not smoke.
What casks age the 12 Year Old? A combination of American bourbon casks and Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, for a minimum of twelve years.
Triple-distilled, twelve years rested — buy Auchentoshan 12 Year Old online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.