The Toshan Man

When I say Iona, you think at best of that heavily peated malt that Tobermory once offered as a distillery exclusive, named after the island and the abbey of the same name. At worst, it doesn't mean anything to you. Don't worry, you're not alone.

But in the first half of the last century, the Iona blend, with its Auchentoshan associations, was very popular.

It is thanks to the fact that the owners invested so much in the publicity at the time that this old blend has not completely been forgotten. We can say with certainty that Auchentoshan, my favorite triple distilled Lowland malt, formed the heart of this whisky.

But in the 1960s it disappeared from the shelves for good.

History

George and John MacLachlan founded a company with a capital of £100 in 1888. They already had a lot of experience. For twenty years they ran the Castle Brewery in Maryhill and a little later they built another one at Duddingston near Edinburgh.

In 1903 they made the switch to distilling with the purchase of the Auchentoshan distillery near Glasgow. The distillery would remain in their possession until the 1960s.

In 1905 they launched the Iona Blended Scotch and bought advertising space in numerous newspapers, both in the UK and abroad. Even in the House of Lords, this whisky was on the shelf and enjoyed great respect. One of the slogans they used for a long time was 'Once taken, never forsaken'.

Around 1930 the blend started to struggle and by 1950 it became very difficult to find a bottle.

In 1964 G&J MacLachlan sold the Auchentoshan distillery to J&R Tennent (of the famous beer), who in turn sold the distillery in 1969 to the wine and spirits traders Eadie Cairns Ltd, a company that is now mainly in real estate.

Around 1960, Iona disappeared for good.

The oldest bottle I have in my Toshan Man collection (or had, I must say, after I was able to pick up this Iona) is an Auchentoshan Pure Malt and a Glentoshan 5 Year Old (for the Italian market) from the early 1970s.

I am therefore very happy that I could get this Iona through an online auction. Although it is not in the best condition, I have to admit that. The most important thing – the front label – is missing. The glass code at the bottom of the bottle tells me that this is a bottling from 1958, while the back label doesn't even mention Auchentoshan's name.

But still I am very happy with this acquisition. It is a part of history of Auchentoshan that was unknown to me until now. One day it will open, promised.

May the Malt be with you!