This site outlines the history of the Auchentoshan brand, the personality, and celebrated stories, and the distinguishing characteristics of the liquid itself.
The accounts and statements on this site form the DNA of the Auchentoshan brand. These truths shape the brand and help to define its future direction.
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THE DECK
MOMENTS
Dating back to 1817, Auchentoshan began as an ‘undercover’ spirit and transformed into a brand full of unconventionality and dichotomy, with a history of hardship and a story of survival leading to an ultimately smooth and versatile whisky.
Auchentoshan is a lowland whisky with intriguing nuances – made using highland water, triple distilled for extra smoothness, and matured in 1st and 2nd fill ex-bourbon casks for added character and flavour.
Auchentoshan is a lowland whisky with intriguing nuances – made using highland water, triple distilled for extra smoothness, and matured in 1st and 2nd fill ex-bourbon casks for added character and flavour.
Auchentoshan Timeline
1817
John Bulloch purchases an estate on the banks of the River Clyde to build his distillery and start his illicit whisky business.
1823
The Auchentoshan distillery is founded under the name ‘Duntocher Distillery’.
1830 - 1834
The Duntocher Distillery is purchased by John Hart and Alexander Filshie. Duntocher Distillery is renamed Auchentoshan.
1903
The distillery is purchased by John & George MacLachlan, beer brewers and whisky distillers that also operated a wine and spirits business in Glasgow.
1941
A German bomb raid destroys Warehouses 1, 2 and 3.
1969
Eadie Cairns Ltd., a hotel and pub operating company in Glasgow, purchases the distillery. Three stills were introduced by John ‘Eadie’ Milne, and triple distillation started.
1984
Stanley P. Morrison Ltd. (later known as Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd., MBD) purchases the distillery for £325,000.
1994
The Suntory Company assumes complete ownership of MBD Ltd. and consequently Auchentoshan.
Stories
Unconventionality & Dichotomy
Through Hard Times
A dramatic history of hardships and wild beginnings, including illicit origins and the 1941 German bomb raid, resulted in Auchentoshan, a smooth, delicate, subtle, and yet nuanced whisky.
Unconventional nature
Auchentoshan is an unconventional Lowland whisky with Highland water, creating a unique range of whiskies that elevate the Lowland spirit using phenomenal casks.
A Story of Transformation
Auchentoshan has survived at the hands of many owners, each adding their own touch, or contrasting the visions of those prior, however, today Auchentoshan continues to transform in unconventional ways.
People
Resourceful & Inventive
The Maverich : John Bullock
Around 1817, a grain and whisky merchant named John Bulloch set out to start an illicit whisky business.
He had recently purchased Auchentoshan estate, situated on the banks of the River Clyde.
Having noted the success of illicit distilleries in the Highlands, John decided to build his own distillery on the Auchentoshan estate.
The glen where the operation would be carried out was conveniently hidden from the view of passing travelers and thus Customs and Excise men. Perhaps taking inspiration from the neighboring village of Duntocher, John named his distillery ‘Duntocher Distillery’ to divert any inquiries into the
Auchentoshan estate.
In 1823, the Government eased restrictions around licensed distilling and John’s distillery became legal. However, by this time, John Bulloch was bankrupt and his son Archibald had taken over control of the distillery – only to bankrupt himself three years later.
Nevertheless, the tenacious Bullochs managed to cling on to ownership until the distillery was finally purchased by John Hart and Alexander Filshie in 1834. The name was subsequently changed to Auchentoshan Distillery, connecting it to the land on which it was built and still stands today.
Having noted the success of illicit distilleries in the Highlands, John decided to build his own distillery on the Auchentoshan estate.
The glen where the operation would be carried out was conveniently hidden from the view of passing travelers and thus Customs and Excise men. Perhaps taking inspiration from the neighboring village of Duntocher, John named his distillery ‘Duntocher Distillery’ to divert any inquiries into the
Auchentoshan estate.
In 1823, the Government eased restrictions around licensed distilling and John’s distillery became legal. However, by this time, John Bulloch was bankrupt and his son Archibald had taken over control of the distillery – only to bankrupt himself three years later.
Nevertheless, the tenacious Bullochs managed to cling on to ownership until the distillery was finally purchased by John Hart and Alexander Filshie in 1834. The name was subsequently changed to Auchentoshan Distillery, connecting it to the land on which it was built and still stands today.
The Founder of the House Style: John 'Eadie' Milne
John ‘Eadie’ Milne was set for a career as a lawyer when his mother suddenly died in 1955, precipitating his entry into the family business, the Eadie Cairns group (he was Eadie’s grandson).
Though John initially intended to stay only for a short while, he ended up dedicating his time and energy to building up the company’s chain of public houses and hotels. He also developed a keen interest in the whisky trade and became known as an influential character within the Glasgow drinks trade and across Scotland. As well as his interests in Auchentoshan, which had a place in many of his establishments, John at one time owned 50 licensed premises in the West of Scotland.
The Auchentoshan distillery benefitted significantly from John’s guidance during the Eadie Cairns years from 1969 to 1984 – most notably his decision to purchase three stills, introducing triple distillation, and establishing the Auchentoshan House Style.
In his 1994 obituary, he was remembered for his business reputation and his kind character, famed as the last bowler-hatted businessman in Glasgow.
The Auchentoshan distillery benefitted significantly from John’s guidance during the Eadie Cairns years from 1969 to 1984 – most notably his decision to purchase three stills, introducing triple distillation, and establishing the Auchentoshan House Style.
In his 1994 obituary, he was remembered for his business reputation and his kind character, famed as the last bowler-hatted businessman in Glasgow.
Place
'The Corner of The Field'
Auchentoshan: 'The Corner of The Field'
Auchentoshan is a Scottish Gaelic name meaning ‘the corner of the field’, inspired by the estate on which the distillery was founded.
The distillery is located at the foot of the Kilpatrick Hills on the outskirts of Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire near the Erskine Bridge.
The hidden glen location where John Bulloch started his illicit distillery was chosen to avoid tax enforcement from Glasgow, while also ensuring access to freshwater sources and plentiful grain from surrounding farms.
Although the location of the distillery has not changed since its early days in the 1820s, the surrounding area on the banks of the famous River Clyde has grown, and the expansion of Glasgow has brought Auchentoshan closer to the city area.
The hidden glen location where John Bulloch started his illicit distillery was chosen to avoid tax enforcement from Glasgow, while also ensuring access to freshwater sources and plentiful grain from surrounding farms.
Although the location of the distillery has not changed since its early days in the 1820s, the surrounding area on the banks of the famous River Clyde has grown, and the expansion of Glasgow has brought Auchentoshan closer to the city area.
Note: The Role of Glasgow
While Glasgow provided significant export opportunities for Auchentoshan, the distillery, and the city have never been linked, but rather grown and evolved over time together – therefore the city of Glasgow plays a minor role in the Auchentoshan brand.
Liquid
House Style Liquid
The Unconventional
Triple Distilled Lowland Whisky
With Intriguing Nuances
Triple Distilled Lowland Whisky
With Intriguing Nuances
A distinctively nuanced whisky fermented in a mix of wooden and steel washback, then triple distilled to produce a versatile whisky with strong fruity and citrus notes, making it more prone to pick up wooden flavours from the casks.
The versatile spirit matures in 1stand 2nd fill Ex-Bourbon casks, picking up subtle flavour nuances, as well as characteristics from the Bourbon, Bordeaux Wine, Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez oak casks in maturation.
The versatile spirit matures in 1stand 2nd fill Ex-Bourbon casks, picking up subtle flavour nuances, as well as characteristics from the Bourbon, Bordeaux Wine, Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez oak casks in maturation.
The result is an elegantly lighter, fragrant and fruity Lowland Single Malt Whisky.
Triple Distilled lowland Whisky
A distinctively nuanced lowland whisky using highland water, fermented in a mix of wooden and steel washback, then triple distilled to produce a versatile whisky with strong fruity and citrus notes, making it more prone to pick up wooden flavours from the casks.
The versatile spirit matures in 1st and 2nd fill Ex-Bourbon casks, picking up subtle flavour nuances, as well as characteristics from the Bourbon, Bordeaux Wine, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximinez oak casks in maturation. The result is an elegantly lighter, fragrant, and fruity Lowland Single Malt Whisky.
‘An elegantly lighter, fragrant & fruity Lowland Single Malt Whisky’
Experience
'Hauf An' A Hauf
Hauf an a Hauf
Traditionally enjoyed neat or on the rocks, Auchentoshan’s versatility and nuances can be revealed in different serves, to fully appreciate the nose and character.
Note: The traditional Glasgow serves ‘hauf an’ a hauf’, a pairing of a dram of whisky with a half-pint of beer chaser, has been an Auchentoshan drink experience in the past.
‘A Triple Distilled Single Malt with Intriguing Nuances’
Personality
Personality & Behavior
The Undercover Spirit
A Lowland Single Malt with intriguing nuances.
Maverick.
A highly individual and nonconformist whisky.
Enigmatic.
An undercover spirit of illicit beginnings, born in the ‘corner of the field’.
Unconventional.
