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[Tasting] What the Cask?

Natural Cask Strength This tasting only contains whiskies at cask strength.  Cask strength can also been known as barrel strength describes whisky that has not be diluted after maturing in a cask. Typical ABV for cask strength is 52-66%. Trying it as is out of the cask, and add H2O to experiment.  Mac-Talla Mara Bottler :             Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers Region:             Islay Cask:                     American Oak ABV:                        58.2 A natural cask strength at 58.2% without chill filtration. Mac-Talla in Gaelic means "echo", and this expression is named after the sound of the shores of Islay. The wild fiery sea and the unforgiving land. Bold, brave, powerful and smoky.  *Morrison Distillers used to own Bowmore until it was sold to Suntory in 1994. Nose:...
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[Tasting] Sherry?

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Use a Glencairn or a tulip shaped glass. Let it breathe, try it as is, then add drops water and try again.

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Sherry?

Fortified wine made from white grapes grown in the region of Andalucia, Spain. Made primarily of three grapes Palomino, Pedro Ximenez, and Moscatel with various oxidization methods. There are a few styles, the lighter, crisper, almond aroma, chalky, and green olive flavour are are fino, manzanilla, and amontillado. The darker and fortified to a higher strength are olorosso and palo cortado.

A few of the selected whiskies for tasting are aged in ex sherry casks. Distillers want to use a sherry cask to contribute flavour to the maturing whisky. 

Vanilla , coconut, spice and chocolate from American oak.

Tannin, resin, clove, and dried fruits from European oak.

It is estimated that 10 litres of Sherry is soaked into he wood of a Sherry cask. The various maturation process of a whisky would contribute different flavours. First fill would have maximum impact vs second fill would have less of those sherry compounds in the oak. There are even whiskies with "Sherry cask finished" to obtain a winey finished.

Reference point of what Sherry taste like.


Gonzalez Byass - Nutty Solera Medium

Medium sweet Oloroso with a pungent nutty nose, smooth and full on the palate.

In no particular order, they are randomly bottled and labeled A to E. If nosing gets a bit difficult , take a whiff of the coffee beans.

Green, Clear, Yellow, Red, Blue.


Gordon & MacPhail - Strathisla Glenlivet Single Malt 2006

Independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail began as a grocery and wine merchant business. Now it is one of the most renowned independent bottlers in the world of whisky. 

Strathisla is also one of the oldest distilleries in the Scottish Highland, and the heart and soul of Chivas Regal blend.

  • Region     : Speyside
  • Cask       : Sherry
  • Distillery : Strathisla (1786)
  • ABV.       : 43%
  • Distilled  : 2006
  • Bottled    : 2019
  • Bottler    : Gordon & MacPhail

Nose.  : Creamy vanilla custard combines with toffee and dried fruits.

Palate : Spicy, mouth warming black pepper and woody undertones. With water: Creamy and sweet and ripe fruit flavour.

Finish : Oily notes with a hint of baked apple and charred oak.


Lismore 21

Lismore 21 - The Legend

Created by William Lundie & Co., they are secretive about its provenance of its single malt whisky. The 21 year old edition is drawn from Sherry hogshead but does not disclose which Speyside distillery it came from. Today, Lismore is bottled by Glenfarclas using the same recipes by the Lundie family.

  • Region     : Speyside
  • Cask       : Sherry 
  • Distillery : Lismore
  • ABV.       : 43%
  • Owner.     : J&G Grant

Nose: Chocolate fudge, intense citrus sweetness and a hint of maple syrup.

Palate: Fig, mint chocolate, grapefruit and a little touch of coconut ice.

Finish: Sherried spices develop on the finish, with honey and toffee popcorn in tow.


Port Charlotte 10 Heavily Peated

Bruicladdich ambition to make the ultimate "Islay" Islay whisky, named after a neighbouring town/distillery. Okay... this one is not a Sherry cask, but I just like this one. 

  • Region.    : Islay
  • Cask.      : Oak
  • Distillery : Bruichladdich (1881)
  • ABV.       : 50%
  • Owner.     : Remy Cointreau

Nose: Beach bonfire, olive oil, bacon. Smoky, smoky, smoky, dry, earthy. With water: citrus fruit, and clementine.


Palate: Coconut, vanilla custard, lemon honey combines with smoked oysters and sun baked salty sand.


Finish: The finish is sublime, smoky, but also the soft sweetness of fudge and malted barley. As the smoke comes and goes so too the notes of the spirit.


Maturation profile

65% 1st fill American Whiskey Cask

10% 2nd fill American Whiskey Cask

25% 2nd fill French Wine Casks

Talisker Distiller Edition 

Diageo's 2020 take on independent bottlers with the selective special addition called the "The Distllers Edition". Amoroso is a type of Oloroso Sherry typically sweet.

  • Region       : The Islands - Isle of Skye
  • Cask.        : Amoroso Sherry (European)
  • Distillery   : Talisker
  • ABV.         : 45.8%
  • Distilled.   : 2010
  • Bottled      : 2020
  • Owner.       : Diageo

Nose:  Extremely sharp and well-focused; no lingering, rambling smoke but instead a wonderful sultana sweetness.

Palate: Crisp peat softens to enormous richness, with sweet, roasty malt and a heathery dryness. Sherry replaces the usual pepper with luscious, oily sweetness.

Finish:  Deep cocoa notes, magnificent vanilla and lingering, earthy peat. Exemplary in balance between sweet and dry.


Glenmorangie The Lasanta Aged 12 Year

Sherry cask finish by Glenmorangie, 10 years in ex-bourbon casks and then finished for 2 years in sherry casks. The finishing casks are Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. 

  • Region       : Highland
  • Cask.        : Bourbon, Oloroso & PX Sherry
  • Distillery   : Glenmorangie (1843)
  • ABV.         : 43%
  • Owner.       : LV Moet Hennessy

Nose: Plum and baking spice supported by milk chocolate raisin, caramel and toasty oak.

Palate: A dash of tart raspberry coulis leads into a generous helping of sherried dried fruit, with orange marmalade, toasted nuts and berry jam. Sweeter notes of brown sugar and cereal notes appear.

Finish: Silky and long, with oily orange peel, cinnamon and hazelnut praline, rounded off by bitter dark chocolate.


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