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.
I love finding casks like this. To me, this whisky shows the skill of a whisky maker who really knows what they’re doing. The desired style of Glen Garioch is a meaty, robust and boisterous whisky that over time should create a rich depth. Often described as a ‘whisky drinker's whisky’ this is a distillery that thrives in cask strength form and has multiple layers of flavour.
This is why I have recently acquired five sister casks of 2011 Glen Garioch. This cask is ready for bottling but the other four are now destined for 4 different styles of ‘re-racking’ and will mature in different directions showing the versatility of this wonderful distillery.
With a full maturation in a first fill bourbon barrel, that trademark richness is balanced with a sweetness from the cask. There is finesse here alongside that bold style that the Glen Garioch distillers are so adept at creating. A second sip reveals an earthy ‘funk’ that is reminiscent of my Dailuaine 11 year old release from last Winter - one of my favourite casks I have bottled.
This is a confident whisky for a whisky drinker who knows what they like.
The desired style of Glen Garioch is a meaty, robust and boisterous whisky that over time should create a rich depth. Often described as a ‘whisky drinkers whisky’ this is a distillery that thrives in cask strength form and has multiple layers of flavour.
With a full maturation in a first fill bourbon barrel, that trademark richness is balanced with a sweetness from the cask. There is finesse here alongside that bold style that the Glen Garioch distillers are so adept at creating.
Vanilla sweetness combines with orange and spice. This is a complex whisky with much to be discovered.
I love finding casks like this. To me, this whisky shows the skill of a whisky maker who really knows what they’re doing. The desired style of Glen Garioch is a meaty, robust and boisterous whisky that over time should create a rich depth. Often described as a ‘whisky drinker's whisky’ this is a distillery that thrives in cask strength form and has multiple layers of flavour.
This is why I have recently acquired five sister casks of 2011 Glen Garioch. This cask is ready for bottling but the other four are now destined for 4 different styles of ‘re-racking’ and will mature in different directions showing the versatility of this wonderful distillery.
With a full maturation in a first fill bourbon barrel, that trademark richness is balanced with a sweetness from the cask. There is finesse here alongside that bold style that the Glen Garioch distillers are so adept at creating. A second sip reveals an earthy ‘funk’ that is reminiscent of my Dailuaine 11 year old release from last Winter - one of my favourite casks I have bottled.
This is a confident whisky for a whisky drinker who knows what they like.
The desired style of Glen Garioch is a meaty, robust and boisterous whisky that over time should create a rich depth. Often described as a ‘whisky drinkers whisky’ this is a distillery that thrives in cask strength form and has multiple layers of flavour.
With a full maturation in a first fill bourbon barrel, that trademark richness is balanced with a sweetness from the cask. There is finesse here alongside that bold style that the Glen Garioch distillers are so adept at creating.
Vanilla sweetness combines with orange and spice. This is a complex whisky with much to be discovered.