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.
In January 2024 I was lucky enough to visit Jerez, Spain, to continue my quest to source the finest sherry casks in which to mature our whisky. Strolls through centuries-old wineries were combined with tastings straight from the casks, honing in on the ones we will be bringing to Scotland for our own maturation.
I also brought with me a small selection of some of my own sherry-matured whiskies. What better place to sample a sherry cask whisky than in the birthplace of sherry itself? Mahogany in colour and carrying all the trademark flavours of a well aged Oloroso, this 12 Year Old Glenallachie proved the perfect dram to enjoy on a balcony overlooking the narrow cobbled streets of Jerez.
Like a fine wine, this is a whisky that changes character in the glass over time. Black coffee and wood spice eventually give way to notes of dried fruit and caramel. It’s a dram that transports you to the sunbaked streets of Jerez and celebrates the symbiotic relationship between scotch and sherry.
One could argue Glenallachie is built for sherry maturation. A light style with a cereal like influence means the cask can add strong character to the whisky without losing the personality of the distillery altogether.
Mahogany in colour and carrying all the trademark flavours of a well-aged Oloroso. Black coffee and wood spice eventually give way to notes of dried fruit and caramel.
Like a fine wine, this is a whisky that changes character in the glass over time. It’s a dram that transports you to the sunbaked streets of Jerez and celebrates the symbiotic relationship between scotch and sherry.
In January 2024 I was lucky enough to visit Jerez, Spain, to continue my quest to source the finest sherry casks in which to mature our whisky. Strolls through centuries-old wineries were combined with tastings straight from the casks, honing in on the ones we will be bringing to Scotland for our own maturation.
I also brought with me a small selection of some of my own sherry-matured whiskies. What better place to sample a sherry cask whisky than in the birthplace of sherry itself? Mahogany in colour and carrying all the trademark flavours of a well aged Oloroso, this 12 Year Old Glenallachie proved the perfect dram to enjoy on a balcony overlooking the narrow cobbled streets of Jerez.
Like a fine wine, this is a whisky that changes character in the glass over time. Black coffee and wood spice eventually give way to notes of dried fruit and caramel. It’s a dram that transports you to the sunbaked streets of Jerez and celebrates the symbiotic relationship between scotch and sherry.
One could argue Glenallachie is built for sherry maturation. A light style with a cereal like influence means the cask can add strong character to the whisky without losing the personality of the distillery altogether.
Mahogany in colour and carrying all the trademark flavours of a well-aged Oloroso. Black coffee and wood spice eventually give way to notes of dried fruit and caramel.
Like a fine wine, this is a whisky that changes character in the glass over time. It’s a dram that transports you to the sunbaked streets of Jerez and celebrates the symbiotic relationship between scotch and sherry.