Like a virgin: Auchentoshan’s new single malt

Scottish distillers Auchentoshan has ventured into the little-travelled terrain of virgin oak maturation with its bold limited edition single malt release

Auchentoshan has released its first single malt matured in virgin oak casks

The company – which produces Scotland’s only triple distilled single malt Scotch whisky – matured the non-chill filtered dram exclusively in virgin North American oak casks.

Challenging the widely held view that Scotch whisky must be left to age in ex-bourbon or sherry casks, Auchentoshan stored batches of the expression in casks which had never stored another spirit.

With a deep orange colour, the expression is said to have an aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg and candied orange, and notes of spiced apple, chocolate caramel and maple candy on the palate.

Auchentoshan brand ambassador Gordon Dundas said that is a common misconception that whisky cannot be matured in virgin oak.

“Auchentoshan is one of the few distilleries to produce a virgin oak single malt,” he said. “The lightness of the triple distilled spirit makes it perfectly suited to absorbing the unique qualities of the charred virgin oak casks.

“The result is in a lowland whisky that subtle as well as complex in nature.”

It is the complex notes found in the spirit, Dundas claims, that mean the spirit is more likely to appeal to the Auchentoshan connoisseur as opposed to the whisky novice.

Auchentoshan Virgin Oak comes in modern packaging to signify an innovative break with whisky tradition. The bottle

Dundas added: “Every time you taste the Auchentoshan Virgin Oak, you can pick up different flavours. This is a pioneering release that reflects the versatility of Auchentoshan – virgin oak might just be the new worldwide trend and I think this new release will dispel a lot of myths surrounding the process.”

He also said the Auchentoshan was endeavouring to educate people about virgin oak and also show that quality whisky does not necessarily need to have an age statement.

This new release is bottled at 46% and comes with an RRP of £69.99.