Watt Whisky have bottled part of a sherry butt (interested to know where the other part headed off too – a ‘future project’ I’m told) of 5 year old Glasgow Distillery. The result is 216 bottles at 57.1% and with 5 still available from The Whisky Shop Dufftown for £68.95.
Nose: Berries. All the berries. Cranberries, redcurrants and raspberries (dried and fresh together) sit with scones topped with jam and cream (or is that cream and jam?!). Plump raisins and mocha join milk chocolate whilst cinnamon powder provides some pep. The addition of water offers clean honey and cloves together with a leafy sherry quality.
Taste: A dryer sherry now – though commencing with some pangs of copper coins and piping (we are only at 5 years of age after all) – Sultanas, dried red and black berries and golden syrup together with dusty cask-led ginger, burnt toffee and char. Reduction amplifies with big coffee notes – both fresh beans and grounds – together with a ‘greenness’ from vines and eucalyptus.
Finish: Medium to long with chocolate, spent coffee and lingering berry sugars.
I’m imagining quite a wet, juicy sherry butt here as the effect on the Glasgow spirit has been quite extractive already. It’s all a little too buried in sherry and rather too dry for my personal preference, but others will doubtless really enjoy the impactful cask influence. Plus for the time of year, this certainly is suitably festive.