As a cask comes to maturity, Finn curates sampling sessions in interesting and relaxing environments, with friends, whisky experts and trusted partners to discover the personality of each cask and gauge the experience each dram evokes.
All the best distillers pride themselves on crafting whisky with a distinctive flavour, which is determined by the water source, grain and barley, the peat and malting, and their distilling processes. High quality original spirit is integral to every cask we bottle.
The cask itself interacts with the whisky over time. The type of wood plays a big role, as do treatments such as the whiskies are aged in a variety of types of casks. The whiskies are aged in former sherry or bourbon casks, augmenting the cask influence. External conditions such as air temperature, pressure and humidity also interact with the cask producing a knock-on effect that makes the spirit inside unique.
Finn uses these factors to balance each FT whisky experience. He may sample a cask and decide to leave it on the rack, allowing age to further develop its personality. He might decide to re-rack a whisky in a new cask to add a finishing touch. Or, he might simply deem it ready. When Finn decides the flavour is perfectly balanced, it’s time to bottle the whisky.
For decades, many consumers have considered the age of a whisky to be the defining factor when it comes to an assumption on quality. Some of the world’s best known whiskies carry the 12 year old age statement, suggesting that the industry is in agreement that this is the benchmark age for both single malts and blends. Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of these. When I quizzed my Grandfather on his favourite drams of all time he was quick to highlight Black Label as his go-to, value for money whisky. This cask of Caol Ila however is 11 years old, or to be exact, 11 years and 11 months old. Bottled just a month short of its 12th birthday, it will not carry the hallowed 12 year old age statement!
Caol Ila is one of my personal favourite distilleries and is renowned for its consistency in producing excellent whisky. Indeed, I don’t think I have ever had a bad one. While still producing a classic Islay, peat forward flavour, the peaty character is less predominant than the likes of Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Longer fermentation and taller stills contribute towards a lighter style of Islay smoke.
Matured in a first fill bourbon cask, the peaty spirit is allowed to shine through brightly without being overwhelmed by the wood. A gentle sweetness comes through from the wood but this is a cask that is letting scotland’s most consistently good distillery do a lot of the talking.
With single cask releases timing is everything and this cask is already singing all the right notes. Sitting proudly on the shelf at 11 years old I’m confident that this will outshine
many an older release and prove that age is just a number.
For decades, many consumers have considered the age of a whisky to be the defining factor when it comes to an assumption on quality. Some of the world’s best known whiskies carry the 12 year old age statement, suggesting that the industry is in agreement that this is the benchmark age for both single malts and blends. Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of these. When I quizzed my Grandfather on his favourite drams of all time he was quick to highlight Black Label as his go-to, value for money whisky. This cask of Caol Ila however is 11 years old, or to be exact, 11 years and 11 months old. Bottled just a month short of its 12th birthday, it will not carry the hallowed 12 year old age statement!
Caol Ila is one of my personal favourite distilleries and is renowned for its consistency in producing excellent whisky. Indeed, I don’t think I have ever had a bad one. While still producing a classic Islay, peat forward flavour, the peaty character is less predominant than the likes of Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Longer fermentation and taller stills contribute towards a lighter style of Islay smoke.
Matured in a first fill bourbon cask, the peaty spirit is allowed to shine through brightly without being overwhelmed by the wood. A gentle sweetness comes through from the wood but this is a cask that is letting scotland’s most consistently good distillery do a lot of the talking.
With single cask releases timing is everything and this cask is already singing all the right notes. Sitting proudly on the shelf at 11 years old I’m confident that this will outshine
many an older release and prove that age is just a number.