Auchentoshan 29 Years Old 1988 (Ex-Bourbon, Pedro Ximenez)

Bottled by Auchentoshan in 2018 as a 29 year old combination maturation release from 1988 vintage stock, with global distribution at cask strength of 49.7%. The release sits in the distillery's premium long matured tier, combining American oak ex Bourbon and European oak Pedro Ximenez casks for a layered final profile.

Distilled in 1988 from 100% unpeated malted barley with Loch Cochno water from the Kilpatrick Hills, the wash was fermented around 62 hours in Douglas fir and stainless steel washbacks before passing through Auchentoshan's three copper pot stills. The wash, intermediate, and spirit stills lift the new make cut to around 81% ABV, stripping sulphur compounds and heavy fusel oils while concentrating light ester compounds. The cleaner spirit base was filled into ex Bourbon American oak for the primary maturation phase before further Pedro Ximenez cask interaction.

The ex Bourbon stage built vanillin from lignin breakdown alongside cis and trans oak lactones, layering vanilla, coconut, and char derived furfural. Pedro Ximenez European oak then added intense oxidative chemistry: ellagitannins and gallic acid bring dried walnut and grip, while extended fermentation residues drive high concentrations of sotolon, lending dried fig, raisin, and dark molasses. Glycerol carryover from the sweet sherry adds body, integrating with the spirit's underlying citrus and almond core at 49.7% natural strength.