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.
As the ninth in a long line of Thomsons who have shaped their lives around whisky, it has always intrigued me how a single family can produce such different characters and creations. This cask reminds me of just that. It was one of three Caol Ila casks of the same vintage that were re-racked into different types of sherry back in September 2020. All shared a history but have forged very different futures. Having sampled all three regularly over the past year and a half, this cask has exceeded expectations in its rate of maturation and depth of flavour. It is now time to bottle - the other two shall slumber on for the time being.
A unique cloudy apple cider note on the nose makes this hogshead stand out – exactly the kind of eccentricity that is a delight to discover with a single cask bottling. Sherry and peat flavours can sometimes be a challenge to marry together, but I believe we have achieved the perfect balance here. On the palate an initial burst of sherry sweetness is followed by a long building smokiness that the signature of this outstanding distillery.
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.
Typically Caol Ila is filled into refill hogsheads, just as this cask was initially. These refill casks allow the spirit to do the talking which is certainly no bad thing when it comes to Caol Ila. While this would have been a perfectly good whisky in its original cask, the use of a European Oak Oloroso cask has added a different dimension to this whisky. There is now a sweeter element as a result of the sherry and the colour is noticeably darker than in the original cask.
I really think that this single cask release epitomises the phrase ‘well balanced’. The sherry and the peat work in tandem with each other without either taking over. The nose gives the first clue that this has been maturing in oloroso for the last 18 months. But as soon as you have the first sip the classic Islay peat notes build and build leaving a lasting smoky finish. There’s something here for fans of peat and sherry alike.
As the ninth in a long line of Thomsons who have shaped their lives around whisky, it has always intrigued me how a single family can produce such different characters and creations. This cask reminds me of just that. It was one of three Caol Ila casks of the same vintage that were re-racked into different types of sherry back in September 2020. All shared a history but have forged very different futures. Having sampled all three regularly over the past year and a half, this cask has exceeded expectations in its rate of maturation and depth of flavour. It is now time to bottle - the other two shall slumber on for the time being.
A unique cloudy apple cider note on the nose makes this hogshead stand out – exactly the kind of eccentricity that is a delight to discover with a single cask bottling. Sherry and peat flavours can sometimes be a challenge to marry together, but I believe we have achieved the perfect balance here. On the palate an initial burst of sherry sweetness is followed by a long building smokiness that the signature of this outstanding distillery.
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.
Typically Caol Ila is filled into refill hogsheads, just as this cask was initially. These refill casks allow the spirit to do the talking which is certainly no bad thing when it comes to Caol Ila. While this would have been a perfectly good whisky in its original cask, the use of a European Oak Oloroso cask has added a different dimension to this whisky. There is now a sweeter element as a result of the sherry and the colour is noticeably darker than in the original cask.
I really think that this single cask release epitomises the phrase ‘well balanced’. The sherry and the peat work in tandem with each other without either taking over. The nose gives the first clue that this has been maturing in oloroso for the last 18 months. But as soon as you have the first sip the classic Islay peat notes build and build leaving a lasting smoky finish. There’s something here for fans of peat and sherry alike.