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.
The distinctive distillery character of Dailuaine has been a favourite of my family since the early 1900s when records show it was one of the key malts of the family blend. This cask is a modern reminder of the 'meaty' style the distillery produces that made it so desirable even over 100 years ago.
My first taste of this cask was in 2020 when this whisky was just 9 years old. My notes at the time read, “Heavy on the nose... but gives little away compared to taste. Stewed apples, pears, rhubarb... I'm intrigued to see where this goes.”
Two years on, the similarities from that first sample are apparent – but Time has worked its subtle magic. The nose still reveals little more than the trademark heat of a cask strength whisky, but the palate has a more complex story to tell: an orchard of classic Speyside fruit notes shine through, more varied and pronounced than before, slowly replaced by a tobacco leaf note that hovers like a smoke ring before falling away.
This is Dailuaine at its finest in my opinion. A nutty, earthy style that has real depth and works well in a refill cask where the character of the spirit can shine through.
Dailuaine is often used as one of the key components of many a Diageo blend. It actually has a flexibility within the distillery to produce more than one style of spirit dependent on what the blenders needs are. This particular cask was filled with ‘nutty’ Daiuaine and it is apparent from the taste. A heavy, earthy character gives a real depth to this whisky.
Matured in a fairly inactive refill hogshead this cask has allowed the spirit character to do most of the talking. The inherent nuttiness of the spirit is allowed to do the talking.
This is Dailuaine at its finest in my opinion. A nutty, earthy style that has real depth and works well in a refill cask where the character of the spirit can shine through.
The distinctive distillery character of Dailuaine has been a favourite of my family since the early 1900s when records show it was one of the key malts of the family blend. This cask is a modern reminder of the 'meaty' style the distillery produces that made it so desirable even over 100 years ago.
My first taste of this cask was in 2020 when this whisky was just 9 years old. My notes at the time read, “Heavy on the nose... but gives little away compared to taste. Stewed apples, pears, rhubarb... I'm intrigued to see where this goes.”
Two years on, the similarities from that first sample are apparent – but Time has worked its subtle magic. The nose still reveals little more than the trademark heat of a cask strength whisky, but the palate has a more complex story to tell: an orchard of classic Speyside fruit notes shine through, more varied and pronounced than before, slowly replaced by a tobacco leaf note that hovers like a smoke ring before falling away.
This is Dailuaine at its finest in my opinion. A nutty, earthy style that has real depth and works well in a refill cask where the character of the spirit can shine through.
Dailuaine is often used as one of the key components of many a Diageo blend. It actually has a flexibility within the distillery to produce more than one style of spirit dependent on what the blenders needs are. This particular cask was filled with ‘nutty’ Daiuaine and it is apparent from the taste. A heavy, earthy character gives a real depth to this whisky.
Matured in a fairly inactive refill hogshead this cask has allowed the spirit character to do most of the talking. The inherent nuttiness of the spirit is allowed to do the talking.
This is Dailuaine at its finest in my opinion. A nutty, earthy style that has real depth and works well in a refill cask where the character of the spirit can shine through.