Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch

Three wood, triple distilled. 3x3 = nine. Blow your mind!Whisky is expensive. And the longer it sits in barrels or casks, the more expensive it gets. You're not really paying for the sweet liquid inside, but rather time. As they say, time is money. Think of it as renting space to store something until you're ready to get it. You're also paying for the expertise of the Master Distiller as he nurtures it over those years.

In Canada whiskies get even MORE expensive when the "free healthcare" taxes are included. So, when one has fallen in love with it like I have, one has to make very wise purchasing decisions. No one wants to get stuck with a $100 bottle they don't like. Thankfully there are people like Ryan at Value Whisky Reviews to help. And there's more help at the LCBO. Every 30 days they put their juice on sale, but the savings are typically not much more than $1.50 a bottle. If you're lucky, you'll save $5, and if you've got horseshoes up your ass, it might be $10.

I loved my Auchentoshan 12 y.o. so much that I was willing to take a chance and buy the Auchentoshan Three Wood at full price. It is the only other Auchentoshan available in Ontario and I was dying to try another triple distilled scotch. Did the LCBO's devious little plan work? You bet. Full price: $77.

Three Wood is special in that it has been matured in three different casks. First it spends an entire decade in ex-bourbon casks, then a year in ex-Oloroso sherry casks and finally, finished for 1 year in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

PhtThe sherry gives the Three Wood a deep bronze colour, and more. The nose made my mind race, searching through file after file of scent memories, trying to find a match. Wood, butterscotch and grapes, and maybe more. It seems similar to the 12 year old only amped up and fruitier.

The taste is very much influenced by the sherry casks. It's an amazingly rich mix of dark fruit and sweetness. Mulberries, grapes, maybe a hint of tobacco and toffee, followed by the same tiny punch of smoke as the 12 year. No, a bit more smoke. Just perfect.

The finish is dry thanks to the sherry casks, a bit grassy, fruity and long. It's not very strong, just perfect. Again, it's similar to the 12 year, only drier and smokier. Even after brushing my teeth I was able to taste it! The finish really is fantastic.

After my first drink I was in love. To me, this is worth a bit of a premium over the regular 12 year. It's like paying extra for a DeLorean... because it has the gas flap hood! Huzzah!

LCBO: $77
750ml
43% (86 proof)

www.auchentoshan.com

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12 Comments:

Anonymous Zoey Castelino said...

Every time I read one of your posts, I have an urge for a drink... could be a good thing ;)

11:03:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

It's probably just a phase, but it's a good phase!

10:52:00 PM

 
Blogger Lorbo said...

This post realllly makes me want to have a drink. This sounds really REALLY good. I would try this on its own.

9:02:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

But Lorbo remember when you tried the scotch at Chris & Lisa's? That was an exquisite, smooth $250 bottle... and you still didn't like it. We gotta get you started on something really simple and light first. Like water.

10:20:00 AM

 
Blogger Lorbo said...

ok, ok...give me some spicy water and we'll build from there. I think I would enjoy it if I've already had a few beverages first too. ;)
But, your descriptions are soooo enticing, it makes me just want to drink up the whole bottle!

3:27:00 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"if you have horseshoes up your ass" ROFLMAO!!! That was good!!

As for the whiskey...Bleh.....like I said in the other post all I taste is burning. Then I get the eebie jeebies shiver. I'm such a pansy.

9:55:00 PM

 
Anonymous Dan said...

I totally agree with you on this review (in that it is both good and expensive)! Back in October (2011), my wife and I were heading to Toronto for a weekend, and the only bottle of Triple Wood left in the province (at that time) was at an outlet in the GTA. I had to call and ask them to hold it for me, and then we had to detour across the city to pick it up...but was it worth it? Yes! It makes an excellent dessert whisky! We paired it with toffee pudding at Christmas and it was absolutely divine.

3:29:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Thankfully the Three Wood was worth it! I haven't tried whisky-food-pairing dinner parties yet, although I do drink it when I order food at pubs. I don't follow the professional reviewers but I JUST learned that it won the best Scotch Whisky and Cigar Combination back in 08 in California.

5:00:00 PM

 
Blogger Akhor said...

Yo! I just saw a great DeLorean video that I thought you would LOVE!

http://youtu.be/iFEqClpt5ck

10:41:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Hey, that's Don! I haven't seen that video, but I know Don. He does some wild stuff.

11:47:00 AM

 
Anonymous Ryan said...

Hey Martini, nice review, and thanks for the shout-out to my blog! This sounds pretty good, I may have to give Auchentoshan a look. I've so far avoided the lowlanders because they are triple distilled, but this sounds like it delivers.

7:10:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

You're welcome. You've got a nicely focused blog. If you prefer the stronger or smokier scotches, you may not like Three Wood as much as I did. I tried the Peat Monster on the weekend and realized how much I truly prefer the light, delicate ones.

11:32:00 AM

 

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