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.
This cask of Ardmore is a throwback to my first ever whisky ’lesson’. As I began to develop more interest in the family story, my Grandfather Michael organised a trip to Speyside to visit some of our casks.
Wanting to ensure that his grandson would not embarrass the Thomson name in front of his industry colleagues, he conducted a mini tasting the night before our meetings to go over the basics of Scotch whisky. He brought 3 bottles along - single malts from Speyside and Islay and a blend - so that he could breakdown the differences between them. The blend he chose was Teacher’s as it was one of the most popular whiskies from his time as a wholesaler at Peter Thomson’s.
Ardmore Distillery has been the backbone of Teacher’s for many a year giving the peaty character that made it so popular in the 1980s. As a single malt, Ardmore offers a unique style of smokiness that is far apart from the better known Islay styles. A building up of smoke combines with a creamy texture and soft fruit notes of banana, melon and peaches.
This is a whisky that is a delight to showcase as a single cask release, and it offers a good reminder as to why the blends of my Grandfather’s era were held in such high regard.
Ardmore Distillery has been the backbone of Teacher’s for many a year giving the peaty character that made it so popular in the 1980s. As a single malt, Ardmore offers a unique style of smokiness that is far apart from the better known Islay styles.
The cask here is a refill and has allowed the spirit to do most of the talking but with a gentle addition of sweetness from the ex bourbon barrel.
A building up of smoke combines with a creamy texture and soft fruit notes of banana, melon and peaches.
This cask of Ardmore is a throwback to my first ever whisky ’lesson’. As I began to develop more interest in the family story, my Grandfather Michael organised a trip to Speyside to visit some of our casks.
Wanting to ensure that his grandson would not embarrass the Thomson name in front of his industry colleagues, he conducted a mini tasting the night before our meetings to go over the basics of Scotch whisky. He brought 3 bottles along - single malts from Speyside and Islay and a blend - so that he could breakdown the differences between them. The blend he chose was Teacher’s as it was one of the most popular whiskies from his time as a wholesaler at Peter Thomson’s.
Ardmore Distillery has been the backbone of Teacher’s for many a year giving the peaty character that made it so popular in the 1980s. As a single malt, Ardmore offers a unique style of smokiness that is far apart from the better known Islay styles. A building up of smoke combines with a creamy texture and soft fruit notes of banana, melon and peaches.
This is a whisky that is a delight to showcase as a single cask release, and it offers a good reminder as to why the blends of my Grandfather’s era were held in such high regard.
Ardmore Distillery has been the backbone of Teacher’s for many a year giving the peaty character that made it so popular in the 1980s. As a single malt, Ardmore offers a unique style of smokiness that is far apart from the better known Islay styles.
The cask here is a refill and has allowed the spirit to do most of the talking but with a gentle addition of sweetness from the ex bourbon barrel.
A building up of smoke combines with a creamy texture and soft fruit notes of banana, melon and peaches.