🥃 Auchroisk
Distillery and single malt Scotch brand in Mulben (Speyside), built in 1972–1974 for the J&B blend; the first whisky sold under the name The Singleton; owned by Diageo.
Auchroisk is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in the village of Mulben, in Speyside. According to Whiskypedia, it was built in 1972 by International Distillers & Vintners, the owner of J&B, and production officially began in 1974. Diageo has owned it since 1997.
History. Auchroisk was built to produce malt for J&B blends. In 1986 it was first bottled as a single malt under the name The Singleton, the first whisky to carry that name. The brand was dropped for Auchroisk in 2001, and The Singleton now covers single malts from Glen Ord, Glendullan and Dufftown. Auchroisk appeared as a Flora & Fauna bottling in 2001 and in the Rare Malts collection in 2003. The large land around the distillery makes it a suitable site for one of Diageo's main northern warehousing complexes.
How it is made. There are eight stills, four for the first distillation and four for the second, and eight steel washbacks with fermentation lasting 75–80 hours. The malt is unpeated, and the water comes from Dorie's Well.
Range. The first The Singleton was matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks and then for two more years in ex-sherry casks, which Whiskypedia describes as an early example of finishing. The distillery is not open to the public.
Why this matters to you. Single malt Auchroisk is uncommon, so check the label for age, casks and strength. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle; by law the strength is at least 40% ABV. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | built 1972, production from 1974; International Distillers & Vintners (J&B); Mulben, Moray |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Speyside) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | unpeated barley malt; water from Dorie's Well |
| Distillation method | twice, 8 stills (4 + 4), 8 steel washbacks, fermentation 75–80 hours |
| Cask type | the first The Singleton: 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, then 2 years in ex-sherry casks |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Auchroisk → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 J&B, 🥃 Johnnie Walker
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that The Singleton first came from Auchroisk?
Yes. In 1986 Auchroisk was bottled as The Singleton. The name was later moved to whiskies from Dufftown, Glendullan and Glen Ord.
Why was Auchroisk built?
To supply malt whisky for the J&B blend. It was built in 1972 and production began in 1974.
Who owns Auchroisk?
Diageo, since 1997. From 1974 to 1997 it belonged to J&B.
What bottlings of Auchroisk exist?
Whiskypedia lists a Flora & Fauna bottling from 2001 and a Rare Malts release from 2003; check the label of any bottle for age and strength.
Can you visit Auchroisk?
No, the distillery is not open to the public.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🍷 Sherry — Protected wine from the Jerez de la Frontera area of Andalusia, aged in oak casks in the solera system; 14 to 22 % alcohol.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
Similar
🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Dailuaine · 🥃 Auchentoshan · 🥃 Knockdhu · 🥃 Tamdhu · 🥃 Blair Athol
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Scotch Whisky Association, Whiskypedia: Auchroisk (built 1972 by IDV for J&B, production 1974; Mulben, Moray; first single malt 1986 as The Singleton, dropped 2001; Flora & Fauna 2001; Rare Malts 2003; 8 stills, 8 steel washbacks, 75-80 h; Dories well; J&B 1974-1997, Diageo since 1997; not open to the public)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)