Given that at least 60% of a whisky’s flavour comes from the barrel it’s aged in, it’s no surprise that distilleries have been busy experimenting with a variety of cask types to add extra nuances of flavour to the final spirit.
Whisky is typically aged in barrels that once contained bourbon or sherry, but everything is fair game these days, whether it’s Cognac casks, rum barrels or port pipes. Even when a cask is emptied, a proportion of the original liquid will have soaked into the staves, so if you refill it with whisky – a process known as ‘finishing’ – over time, that liquid will blend with the spirit. Wine and port casks will add a fruity dimension to whisky; rum will add depth and richness; while sherry butts will vary depending on their type. Oloroso sherry adds richness, whereas a leaner, drier style such as fino will add briney, maritime notes.
Cask finishing was pioneered by two powerhouses of the Scotch whisky industry: David Stewart of The Balvenie, and Dr Bill Lumsden of Glenmorangie. The latter is particularly known for his wild experimentation, finishing his Highland whisky in casks that used to contain Sauternes, Madeira, and even Côtes du Rhône red wine.
It’s fitting, then, that The Balvenie won a Gold medal at this year’s IWSC, scoring 95/100 for its 15 YO Madeira Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky, offering notes of sweet raisin, cloves, bitter almonds and Madagascan vanilla.
Other top-scoring cask-finished whiskies included Irish distillery Teeling’s 32 YO Single Rum Cask Maturation Single Malt Irish Whiskey, and Glencadam’s Reserva Andalucía Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky, offering a further flavour of the many ways producers are maximising on the trend to create exciting new expressions. Read on for a selection of the best cask-finished whiskies from this year’s IWSC.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE SPIRITS?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
MORE FROM CLUB OENOLOGIQUE
Club O is an exclusive community and the go-to platform for wine and spirit lovers. Our flagship Club Oenologique magazine offers even more insights for enthusiasts and collectors. Based in London, our editorial team tells informative, inspirational stories from the world of wine and spirits, gastronomy and travel, as well as covering recommendations and the latest trends in drink. You can take a look at our Explained series, for instance, where we’re tackling grape varieties, regions and styles of wine and spirits. Alternatively, visit our Ask the Sommelier section, where experts answer your wine-related questions.
10 top bottles of cask-finished whisky from the IWSC 2022
Teeling Whiskey, 32 YO Single Rum Cask Maturation Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Glen Moray Distillery, Elgin Hertiage 21 YO Portwood Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Shinobu Distillery, Shinobu Mizunara Oak Finish Peated Pure Malt Whisky
Glencadam Distillery, Reserva Andalucia Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
John Dewar & Sons, Aberfeldy 21 YO Madeira Casks Single Malt Scotch Whisky
William Grant & Sons Distillers, The Balvenie 15 YO Madeira Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Young Spirits Co Ltd, 12 YO Speyside First Fill Pedro Ximenez Finish
Kavalan Distillery, Solist Fino Sherry Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
Irish Distillers, Redbreast Lustau Edition Irish Whiskey
Irish Distillers, Green Spot Chateau Montelena Irish Whiskey
