Here is what my reviews have been missing - some 'Lowland Love'. It's not hard to overlook the Lowland region; at the time of this writing there are only three distilleries in the area that have whisky ready for consumption (but there are two more that have some aging, to be opened in several years). The Lowland distilleries have a nickname that I am not sure if they are proud of or not, "The Lowland Ladies". No, it isn't a jab at their manliness or their decor, rather they got that name for producing mild, gentle, floral whisky; the kind of whisky the Lowlands are known for.
The gentle whisky can be attributed to several factors but one that stands out is that most whisky in this region is triple-distilled, producing a very smooth and clean spirit. Also, distilleries in this region are located inland, away from the sea and its elements. Lastly, there is no peat used in creating Lowland whiskies, avoiding the smokiness of whisky from other regions.
For the inaugural Lowland review I chose the whisky that you are, by far, the most likely to come across when you are out and about the town, Auchentoshan (Ah-ken-tosh-en) Classic. There is no age statement on the bottle so the assumption can be made that this is a younger spirit. It is a fact that any Scotch has to be over 36 months old but how far past that this goes I am not certain. Do not let that dissuade you though, most people my age and older will tell you that "age is just a number".
Auchentoshan Classic (formerly Auchentoshan Select) is produced at the (drumroll) Auchentoshan Distillery, located near Glasgow. Auchentoshan, which is Gaelic, means "corner of the field" and their whisky has been called "the breakfast whisky" (for you hardcore fans out there that start early) due to the gentle expressions they produce. The distillery was founded by Irish refugees in 1825 which leads me to speculate that it is the Irish background that is responsible for the triple distillation. On to the whisky!
The whisky has a nice, bright gold color and a great looking consistency with nice legs. The aroma is light and mild but very pleasant; I picked up faint hints of citrus and 'sweetness'. It tastes sweet with a very faint hint of fruit. This may sound a bit crazy but I picked up the faintest hint of watermelon. The gentleman I was sipping with said he detected pineapple. Either way, you're in for a bit of a treat; this could be an interesting one to try and see what you find. The whisky has a nice finish as well, super smooth and lasting.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 Casks
Reason: Just a very nice, sweet, mild whisky. I can see why it has been called breakfast whisky. The absence of ocean salinity and smoky peat help this to be a very easy-going sipping whisky. Pairs well with a cigar with a Connecticut wrapper (The San Lotano Lancero went great). This is another one of those whiskies that I would recommend to drinkers of both sexes and all 'levels'. To cap it off, the price is great at around 35.00 a bottle. For that price, you really should grab a bottle and give it a go.
Cheers!
Charles
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