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.
Caol Ila with a sherry cask finish is fast becoming my favourite type of bottling. Having previously released 15, 17 and 18 year old editions, this is the youngest but arguably the most vibrant yet.
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.
Finished in a Ximenez Spinola PX sherry cask, there is an added sweetness to the notably peaty style of the spirit. Having visited Jerez in January 2025, I was lucky enough to visit the bodega and witness first hand the expertise of this family owned winery in creating Pedro Ximenez sherry. They are the true definition of experts. Like myself, the current owner José Antonio Zarzana is the 9th generation of his family to produce sherry and he carries an aura of expertise.
Caol Ila is the natural companion for a sherry cask like this. The marriage of sherry and smoke is sometimes hard to achieve, but here there is a natural balance of smokiness, saltiness and sweetness coming together. A testament to the traditions of Islay and Jerez together - this is a wonderful addition to our sherry cask Caol Ila range.
Caol Ila with a sherry cask finish is fast becoming my favourite type of bottling. Having previously released 15, 17 and 18 year old editions, this is the youngest but arguably the most vibrant yet.
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.
Finished in a Ximenez Spinola PX sherry cask, there is an added sweetness to the notably peaty style of the spirit. Having visited Jerez in January 2025, I was lucky enough to visit the bodega and witness first hand the expertise of this family owned winery in creating Pedro Ximenez sherry. They are the true definition of experts. Like myself, the current owner José Antonio Zarzana is the 9th generation of his family to produce sherry and he carries an aura of expertise.
Caol Ila is the natural companion for a sherry cask like this. The marriage of sherry and smoke is sometimes hard to achieve, but here there is a natural balance of smokiness, saltiness and sweetness coming together. A testament to the traditions of Islay and Jerez together - this is a wonderful addition to our sherry cask Caol Ila range.