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 first tried a sample of this whisky back in 2022 when it was just six years old. It is a core belief of mine that whiskies should always be tasted in a ‘real’ environment, rather than a sterile sample room. On this occasion I found myself sipping the sample in the warm waters of the Mediterranean near Cannes, France - a far cry from the wild coastline of Highland Park’s island home of Orkney. The sample had potential but I felt it needed to be pushed in a slightly different direction.
Inspired by the sunnier setting, I looked to another island famous for making its own distinctive beverage in order to add more sweetness and complexity to the light, heathery peated style of Highland Park. Madeira wine has been used for maturing Scotch whisky for centuries and, in our own family archives, we have records of Madeira casks being part of the Thomson family blend as far back as 1897.
The result is a robust and complex whisky shaped by two iconic islands who each produce their own celebrated drink. The subtle peat of Orkney meets Madeira strawberries and cream in a cask strength Atlantic storm of flavour.
Highland Park distillery has a special heather character and delicate peat smoke somewhat different to mainland peated whiskies. This subtle smoke is complemented by floral notes, fine honey sweetness, and a softness often associated with the Speyside region.
Bright pink hues from the remnants of the Madeira wine in this cask hint at the flavours inside. Strawberry and raspberry notes give a nod to the sunnier settings of Madeira where this cask originated.
This is a robust and complex whisky shaped by two iconic islands who each produce their own celebrated drink. The subtle peat of Orkney meets Madeira strawberries and cream in a cask strength Atlantic storm of flavour.
I first tried a sample of this whisky back in 2022 when it was just six years old. It is a core belief of mine that whiskies should always be tasted in a ‘real’ environment, rather than a sterile sample room. On this occasion I found myself sipping the sample in the warm waters of the Mediterranean near Cannes, France - a far cry from the wild coastline of Highland Park’s island home of Orkney. The sample had potential but I felt it needed to be pushed in a slightly different direction.
Inspired by the sunnier setting, I looked to another island famous for making its own distinctive beverage in order to add more sweetness and complexity to the light, heathery peated style of Highland Park. Madeira wine has been used for maturing Scotch whisky for centuries and, in our own family archives, we have records of Madeira casks being part of the Thomson family blend as far back as 1897.
The result is a robust and complex whisky shaped by two iconic islands who each produce their own celebrated drink. The subtle peat of Orkney meets Madeira strawberries and cream in a cask strength Atlantic storm of flavour.
Highland Park distillery has a special heather character and delicate peat smoke somewhat different to mainland peated whiskies. This subtle smoke is complemented by floral notes, fine honey sweetness, and a softness often associated with the Speyside region.
Bright pink hues from the remnants of the Madeira wine in this cask hint at the flavours inside. Strawberry and raspberry notes give a nod to the sunnier settings of Madeira where this cask originated.
This is a robust and complex whisky shaped by two iconic islands who each produce their own celebrated drink. The subtle peat of Orkney meets Madeira strawberries and cream in a cask strength Atlantic storm of flavour.