Pretchi
Whisky and wine share a lot in common, while wine cask finishing is a relatively new phenomenon in the grand scheme of whisky history, it’s one that has changed the taste of our drams for good. Step away from the sherry bombs – we’re shining a light on eight progressive wine cask finished whiskies.
Now that holidays are approaching, it’s always been customary for us to include the best tasting wine we can add to our table. However, we can make it even more exciting (and stronger)—like wine cask-finished whiskeys?
Wine cask finishing: Where the worlds of wine and whisky collide in (mostly) joyous harmony. Over the last few decades, producers have been whipping out their world maps and exploring traditional grape-touting territories as they seek to round off their tasty, tasty whisky in a curious cask. And let’s be honest, it’s all rather exciting, isn’t it?
Their previous contents might have been a fortified wine like sherry or port, a sweet dessert wine, or table wine. Wine cask-finished whiskeys strike a balance of strength (always at least 40 percent ABV) and elegance, thanks to the influence of the finishing casks.
Either way, that liquid has left its mark on the oak itself—and, in turn, the cask changes the flavor of an already-mature bourbon, scotch, or other whiskeys that spends a few months finishing.
We give you the lists of 6 (six) best-tasting wine cask-finished whiskeys that are bound to steal the show.
1. The GlenAllachie 11-Year-Old Grattamacco Finish (and 13-Year-Old Rioja Finish)
Speyside single malt scotch distillery GlenAllachie has a whole series of limited-edition wine cask-finished whiskies, including two that recently debuted in the U.S. Both were initially aged in ex-bourbon casks before spending almost two years in wine barriques—from Bolgheri’s Grattamacco winery for the 11-year-old ($110), and the Spanish region of Rioja for the 13-year-old ($130). Each whisky is bottled at a generous 48 percent ABV, highlighting the natural complexity created by the wine casks. Less than 1,000 bottles of each made their way stateside, so keep a sharp eye and grab if you find them.
2. Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Polo Estancia Edition
Blended scotch often gets overlooked in the single malt frenzy, but offerings like this Royal Salute gem prove why that’s a mistake. Created by master blender Sandy Hyslop, Estancia pays tribute to Argentina’s polo tradition with a finish in Bodegas Etchart Cafayate malbec casks. It’s rare to find a malbec-finished whisky. The varietal adds rich fruit and chocolate notes as well as texture, giving Estancia a plush, velvety body without becoming heavy or overly dominant with food. Aged for 21 years, it’s priced more in line with single malts several years its junior—something only a blend can pull off
3. Aberfeldy 18-Year-Old Red Wine Cask-Finished
Master blender Stephanie Macleod turned to Côte Rôtie casks for this limited edition. The famed French wine is made mainly with syrah grapes and sometimes viognier—lending it flavors that are both meaty and floral at the same time. In the Highland single malt, this is expressed as flavors of redcurrant and lingonberry alongside the distillery’s signature honey notes.
4. Compass Box Canvas
While sherry, port, and red wine are all common finishing casks, Compass Box Canvas turns to a wine style that’s virtually unheard of to create its notes of marmalade, honey, and cocoa: vino de naranja. Produced in Andalucia, Spain, vino de naranja is an aromatized sweet wine, made with white grapes and macerated orange peel that’s aged in a solera system. With such a rare finishing cask, this blended malt whisky is guaranteed to be unique. But if that’s not enough, Canvas offers an even more special experience through its label, which can be customized with your own photo or image via QR code.
5. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength
Compared to scotch, Kentucky bourbon is a relative newcomer to cask finishing. Angel’s Envy began leading the way about a decade ago, offering its flagship port cask-finished bourbon that’s now become a staple on bars nationwide. The annual limited-edition Cask Strength ramps up the proof—and thus the inherent jammy fruit notes from the port casks, including dark plums, blackberry cobbler, as well as burnt sugar. Always in high demand, Angel’s Envy Cask Strength is more available than ever in 2021, with nearly 15,000 bottles of the 120.7 proof bourbon rolling out nationwide this December.
6. Macallan Double Cask 30-Year-Old
Famous for its sherry cask maturation, Macallan carefully controls the process of creating and seasoning barrels in Spain before shipping them off to Speyside to be filled with whisky. That might sound rather calculating, but it’s necessary to consistently produce the world’s most collectible single malt. For its Double Cask series, Macallan uses both American and European oak barrels, each imparting unique flavors and aromas, thanks to the varied growing conditions of the different tree species. The 30-Year-Old joins 12-, 15-, and 18-Year-Old expressions, and comes in a beautiful oak box that’s ready-made for a (very generous) host gift.
Source: MensJournal
