Auchentoshan Three Wood

Overall Rating: 98/100 Auchentoshan Three Wood is an exceptional single malt that showcases the Lowland distillery’s mastery of triple distillation and cask finishing. Matured in a combination of American bourbon, Spanish Oloroso sherry, and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, it delivers an explosion of rich, sweet, and complex flavors. It stands out as a definitive expression for those who adore sherry-forward whiskies. Appearance In the glass, the whisky glows with a deep mahogany hue, reflecting the influence of its extended time in sherry casks. The liquid clings to the glass with thick, luxurious legs, hinting at a rich and oily texture. Nose The nose is a symphony of sherry-driven aromas, offering an intense and immediate burst of dried fruits—raisins, figs, and prunes. Dark chocolate, toffee, and a touch of espresso add layers of depth, while subtle notes of orange peel, baking spices, and roasted nuts contribute further complexity. The bouquet is opulent and inviting, a prelude to the richness that follows. Palate Auchentoshan Three Wood delivers what might be the brightest and most expressive sherry influence I’ve ever encountered in a whisky. From the first sip, the palate is engulfed by waves of dark fruits—plump raisins, stewed plums, and rich black cherries. Velvety toffee and molasses provide a luscious sweetness, while hints of dark chocolate, cinnamon, and clove add warmth and spice. The Pedro Ximénez cask finish imparts a decadent touch of syrupy sweetness, perfectly balanced by the drier, nuttier notes from the Oloroso sherry casks. A subtle layer of citrus zest adds a refreshing lift to the dense flavor profile. Finish The finish is long, luxurious, and deeply satisfying. Lingering notes of dark chocolate, spiced fruitcake, and toasted oak slowly fade, leaving behind a gentle warmth and a faint hint of dried orange peel. The sherry influence remains vivid throughout, a testament to the skillful cask selection and blending. Final Thoughts Auchentoshan Three Wood is a sherry lover’s dream and a benchmark for sherry-cask maturation. Its ability to deliver such a vibrant, expressive sherry profile without overwhelming the whisky’s natural sweetness and complexity is remarkable. The triple distillation process imparts a refined smoothness that perfectly complements the rich flavors from the cask finishes. For those who crave a whisky that boldly celebrates sherry’s influence, Auchentoshan Three Wood is unmatched. Its complexity, balance, and unforgettable flavor profile make it one of the finest sherry-forward whiskies on the market, solidifying its position as a true masterpiece in the whisky world.

Review #031 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: NAS, ex-bourbon, ex-oloroso, and ex-pedro ximenez Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Was Unable to look for legs due to an apparent water-repellent coating on the glass I was tasting with. Nose: 14/20 Red wine tannins, dark chocolate, raisins, and oranges. Palate: 30/40 Light and dry mouth feel. Mostly black pepper and chili peppers, some plumb sweetness, and bitter extra dark chocolate. Finish: 33/40 Medium length with a moderate ethanol burn. The chocolate becomes a bit sweeter and introduces some walnut bitterness, before ending with a wisp of smoke. With Water: Opens up a bit with a drop of water, the peppery notes on the palate are tamed a bit allowing the others to shine through some more. A hint of salt to the finish. Total: 77/100 Final thoughts: 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. Price: $75 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Nosing: This offering is exceptionally aromatic. Triple distillation in bourbon, Spanish Oloroso Sherry an lastly into Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks gives this scotch heavy fruity notes. It is essentially a Christmas fruit cake in a glass. Immediately there are notes of orange, lemon, dried apricot, and peach. Than the vanilla, burnt toffee, and mixed nuts hit the nose. Brandy and sherry notes are also apparent. Tasting: Complex amount of sugars coat the roof of the mouth with caramel, toffee, and vanilla taking the main stage. Maple and honey are also present but only mildly. The fruits from the nosing are not as present, but there is apricot and raisin. Other notes are of semi sweet chocolate and pepper. Extremely complex and full of flavor with a very long finish. Fantastic scotch for the price. Overall: Nose - 4.5/5 Taste: 4.5/5 Overall: 4.5/5 Repurchase: Yes Type: Friday Night Pour

Auchentoshan 12 year is currently my favourite every day single malt. The tenderness that the triple distillation brings reminds me of an Irish whiskey, but still packing that Scottish punch. Needless to say, I've been looking forward to cracking this triple wood offering for a while now. I'm comparing this with a dram of the 12 year for some contrast. Nose: Much fruitier than the 12, strawberry jam, bing cherries, hints of charred wood. Palate: Oily mouthfeel, blackberry, dark plums. Sweetness is more balanced than the 12. Finish: Hazlenuts and walnuts, charred oak. Fades gradually. No age statement here but I'd read somewhere that the average age of this malt is around 14 years. You can tell that this wasn't rushed. Not a hint of harshness here and the flavours evolve from fruity to nutty like a fine dessert. Man I love Auchentoshan.

Auchentoshan is known for their triple distilling and this one combines it with a triple oak aging. Bourbon, Olorosso and Pedro Jimenez. The combination brings sweetness, fruits and oak complexity. The whisky seems young. It’s a light body, amber color, thin legs. On the nose - honey, apple, cereal and vanilla. It’s fruity and sweet. Interesting! On the palate - that’s where it underdelivers. The fruits are not so distinct. Sweetness is there with brown sugar, some vanilla. But the conplexity is vanished. The ABV is low which might impact the flavors that could have been here. I’ll have to try again as I see the expert notes talking about chocolate and more. I want to get those flavors, so I’ll give it abother try. Cheers!

A complex, Single Malt Scotch Whisky by Auchentoshan Distillery in Lowlands, Scotland aged in 3 different cask types: 1st in Bourbon barrels, next in Spanish Oloroso Sherry & finally it's moved to Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. It has an aromatic birth with notes of nuts, cooked fruits, burnt toffee, orange, dates & Sherry; while a rich & complex life adds notes of liqueur cherries, dark chocolate, maple syrup, marshmallow, dry malt & ripe dark forest fruits; that leads to a long & warming death with notes of thick dark treacle, oak & green fruits. June / October 2020 / May 2021 / July 2022