There’s one sure-fire flavor that all whisky-loving dads appreciate and it’s the smooth, robust, and decadent flavor of sherry-matured single malt. When Scotland’s finest distillate is aged in top-quality barrels still wet with the sweet wine of Jerez, the combination can be absolutely magical. Every guy out there remembers the time he cut his teeth on the soft, caramel-laden flavor of Macallan, and it’s the Oloroso sherry that made that magical moment happen. Sherry-aged whisky is the no-brainer choice you’re looking for if you’re not quite sure what to get dad this Father’s Day weekend. Every guy out there loves the rich, mouthfilling-flavor, and every father we know would appreciate having another bottle for the man cave. So without further ado, let’s check out the Top Five Sherry-Aged Whiskies at K&L for Father’s Day Weekend:
1998 Mortlach 16 Year Old K&L Exclusive Signatory Sherry Butt Finish Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)
Can we keep the Mortlach momentum rolling? It seems that ever since we released that amazing sherry butt of Mortlach from Chieftain’s all those years ago, we’ve been riding a wave of Mortlach enthusiasm for the sherry-aged Speyside beast. Diageo even released their own single malt version (maybe we had something to do with that, eh?) We’re always on the lookout for more Mortlach, especially sherry-aged barrels, and it turns out that Signatory had a sherry-finished butt sitting in their Pitlochry location just there for the taking. The first sip is all you need to get excited: lots of gingerbread, cinnamon, holiday cookie goodness just explodes on the palate, with cakey, sherry flavor rounding out the back end. At full proof, it’s as much of a beast as ever. But the fact that this cask was simply finished in sherry, rather than aged in the sweet wine from day one, is a big benefit. The maltiness of the whisky is still there at the core and the finish still sings of whisky. It’s going to be a big hit; especially for $99.99.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 09, 2015
This Mortlach is going to make so many people happy. We were shocked earlier this year when the owners released an 18 year in the UK at £200 for the half bottle. We were equally surprised when Signatory pointed out the 10 casks of Mortlach that had been undergoing a second maturation for over two years in fresh sherry casks. We were allowed to taste one. We bought it immediately. The rugged Mortlach spirit is in perfect balance with the lovely sherry influence. While the whisky isn’t as dark as I remember it being, there’s still all that rich oloroso influence. The spirit is flamboyant and still showing the great youthful savoriness that Mortlach is known for. So much going on here; a true display of why Mortlach is a true blue chip distillery.
James Knight | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 23, 2014
It is a peculiarity that there’s still plenty of this old Mortlach available, while the pricier 25 year Blair Athol that came in about the same time is completely sold out. Exactly the opposite has occurred in my liquor cabinet, after I purchased both: The Mortlach is going much faster than the near-full Blair Athol. The latter may be more concentrated, with rancio and spicy wood notes, but the Mortlach is silkier, with butterscotch warmth and a piney top note. I even prefer it to the current Glenfarclas 105.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2014
So this guy started as a couple of hogsheads and was then finished in a sherry butt. You can tell because there’s a lot of oak action on the nose, almost Bourbon-like with pencil lead, but then morphing into stonefruit. The sherry turns on however in the mid-palate, but as we saw with the Bruichladdich it only highlights the fruit. Holy cow, this is tasty. Lots of sweet apricot and pear notes, but like they were dipped in a bit of cocoa. I’m going back in again and there’s another wave of sweet baking spices that washes over the finish. Wow, this is good.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 07, 2014
Very drinkable. This bottle has the nice roundness that one expects from Mortlach. The sherry barrel finish did not fatten it up but added layers of flavors to enjoy. For fans of Mortlach, or for those looking for a single malt that is not smokey and is easy to drink, this Signatory has a lot to offer.
Michel Couvreur K&L Exclusive Overaged Peated Malt Whisky 750ml ($89.99)
The chance to work with Michel Couvreur on a special K&L whisky project was something that David and I had been dreaming of for years. We had heard the stories. This crazy Belgian had moved to Burgundy in the 60s, carved out a wine cellar inside a mountain, only to fill it with Scottish single malt whisky instead of pinot noir. He set up camp in Beaune, ordered new-make spirit to be delivered by tanker, and drove down to Jerez himself; selecting his own sherry butts to insure only the finest quality casks for his contracted spirit. Unfortunately, Michel Couvreur passed away last year from pancreatic cancer, thus ending the career of one of the industry’s most courageous pioneers. Luckily for us, however, apprentice Jean-Arnaud has carried on after studying under Michel for more than a decade. When we visited the underground cave this past Spring, we were all in total awe. The tunnels of dripping stone go on forever, and the amount of whisky stored in this secret lair is jawdropping. We put our trust completely in Jean-Arnaud and are happy we did. Our peated version of the incredible sherry expression is a seamless creation that drinks like the best version of Johnnie Black ever, mixed with the most supple and soft expressions of Macallan. It’s a lush, unfiltered, creamy, caramel-laden dream of a whisky composed only of malts 12 years and older. There’s a bit of peat on the finish, but the soft sherry is the star. (NOTE: do NOT cut the hard wax seal, tap it so that it breaks)
Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 22, 2014
One of the best bottles of “Scotch” I have had in a long while. I have been moving away from peated malts recently…but this bottle has the perfect marriage of smoke and sherry. The malt has a beautiful chewy texture and richness on the palate (perhaps owing to the fact that they don’t remove any of the first fill sherry barrel residue before bottling). It is brimming with red forest fruits, sweet rancio tones, wood spice and earthy nuances. A really complete drop and serious value for the money, in my book.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 14, 2014
The magnificence that is Michel Couvreur has always been clear, but it wasn’t until we stepped into the special cave, carved out of the rock, in Bouze-Les-Beaune that you can full appreciate the incredible endeavor in process at this fine producer. While this is by definition NOT scotch, because it is aged outside of the country, the old school practices utilized at here are unusual back in Scotland. The fact that these guys literally drive to Jerez to pick out fresh sherry casks (from Equipos Navazos no less) is totally unique in modern times. In fact, no producer of malt whisky is getting access to fresher barrels than these guys. Despite not being able to use the famous moniker, does not preclude this from being one of the most authentic and absolutely delicious malts on the market. Stupendous depth and complexity even at 86 proof, while the sherry is toned down from the standard version a subtle fino/amontillado quality exists in the back ground. This is pointed by a fabulous smokey sweetness, which hints at the source whisky. Maybe an island somewhere, maybe a drop of Islay, wildly high-quality Highland whisky with a French sensibility. A truly unique gem.
Shaun Green | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 07, 2014
I love it! Super creamy with a mild peat, lovely sherry character and an absolutely wonderful sexy texture on the palate. What an amazingly charming whiskey!
1995 Craigellachie 18 Year Old Hepburn’s Choice K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)
It wouldn’t be a whisky season without some big rich sherried malt to round out the selection. Craigellachie is becoming a serious force now that the owners have finally decided it should be marketed as a single malt. This exceptional distillery was almost exclusively reserved for the blends until very recently, but the heightened profile means that procuring more in the future might become more difficult. That’s why we knew we had to jump on this spectacular sherried ‘llachie. This has everything you want in a sherried malt and nothing that you don’t. It starts with a slight flintiness (don’t worry it’s not sulfur, just a spark on the front), this quickly blows off to reveal a magnificent bouquet of dried cherries, fudgy cacao nibs, roasted coffee beans, and freshly polished sandalwood. The dark aromas translate well to the palate, but never go bitter and the malty spirit adds lift and sweetness. Here is a truly balanced sherried malt like none other on the shelf right now. Sure we all sometimes love a big hammer of sherry right in your sensory organs, but sometimes you want the sweet velvety caress of that special wine from Jerez. Balanced, yet not lacking depth or power in anyway.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: April 06, 2015
For fans of sherry-aged single malts the Craigellachie 18 is an absolute bargain. It is mouth-filling, with rich and round flavors. In my tasting notes I wrote “Wow.” For fans of Macallan 18 who want to branch out and try a similar yet different whisky.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 25, 2015
This massive cask is definitely one of my favorites from this year. Craigellachie is a wonderful and under-appreciated distillery that’s only now getting recognition as a true Scottish Blue Chip. Its OB 17-year offering has recently won Speyside whisky of the year and this 18-year-old first-fill sherry version is another example of why the distillery is so well regarded by those in the know. Here we have some really classic sherry aromas, some fudge, wisps of gun smoke, dark dried plummy fruit. The palate dries up nicely (this is definitely Oloroso, not PX), but still brings out some Christmas cake and other dense fruity/spicy aromas. A real winner and an absolute steal considering where other malts in first-fill sherry are fetching these days.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 03, 2015
For those who enjoyed the sherry casks we once were able to secure from Glendronach, this is our current replacement–and it’s far less expensive. Lovely richness, cakebread and spice, good weight on the palate. It’s a solid 18 year old sherry-aged whisky for an outstanding price.
1990 Glenfarclas 24 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($169.99)
We’ve always loved Glenfarclas. As you may or may not know, this distillery is one of the last independently owned in all of Scotland. It’s owned by the Grant family. It also happens to be on most knowledgeable people’s list of top distilleries and has consistently provided us with excellent sherried Speyside offerings at incredible prices. We’ve had success finding single casks in their vast warehouse system, but found that current market conditions have made purchasing a single cask from the Grants rather cost-prohibitive. Negotiating the price down on those casks is also out of the question as wholesalers worldwide are privy to the price structure and the Grants are very loyal and fair. With that option off the table we decided to get creative. Those single casks have a set price list, but picking multiple casks for one bottling afforded us some flexibility. We knew we were onto the next crazy value, but we never imagined how versatile a multi-cask bottling could be. So, into the warehouse we went. George bragged about the quality of the 1990 vintage, but we had no idea how special they were until we were standing in front of the barrels. These casks are from a sequential lot of first fill Oloroso sherry butts at 24 years old. Without a doubt, ‘Farclas fans will be pleased, but this bottling is approachable enough for even the most novice whisky lover to appreciate.
Greg St. Clair | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 19, 2015
While I loved the sweetish intensity of the Glenfarclas Faultline Casks this bottling is about the ethereal aromatic, not that it lacks power but the flavor profile is alluring, beckoning, not bursting from the glass, no overly bold adjectives but subtle grace, length with an incredible finish. Here one finds the delicate flavors woven like silk threads to form something much more profound than any one flavor just a beautiful kaleidoscope of aromatics, none stronger than another just a complete fabric. Stunning quality, superb balance for all of those who really appreciate “fine” malts.
Daniel Maas | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 04, 2015
Listen. I’m a peat man. I like super rich, intense, smoky whiskeys. That being said, imagine my delight when I was fortunate enough to taste this 24 year old single cask that was selected specifically for us at K&L. Famed distillers Glenfarclas have once again proved their skill with this absolutely gorgeous Highland scotch. Medium plus in body, with just enough complexity and peat to please someone like me, while also proving to be quite approachable to novices, this is quite the steal. It is remarkably easy to drink, thanks to its age, and leaves a lingering finish in your mouth that will make you wish you were traversing the Highlands while possibly wearing a kilt. Grab this while it is around.
Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 17, 2014
Stunning. Has some similarities to the “Faultline Casks” bottling but with more refined flavors and more developed, savory rancio characters. The texture is supple and elegant. Whilst this doesn’t seem to have the chewy texture and raw “youthful” exuberance of the 9-10 year old bottling, it oozes subtle flavor intensity, focus, and purity. The sherry quality shows a little drier and more nutty rather than sweet and fruity. A beautiful bottle and crazy good for the age / money in today’s climate!
Dave Genevro | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 08, 2014
I am usually all about the bourbons…but this Scotch might be the one that converts me! Amazing color, structure and flavor. I will be getting a bottle to add to my spirits collection for sure. I am so glad our buyer got this in for all of us to enjoy! Get a bottle while you can–if you love Highland whisky, you won’t regret it at all.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 08, 2014
Glenfarclas is such a quality producer of single malts that it is always a joy to taste one. The 1990 Glenfarclas is wonderful and luscious, with inviting aromas and big, expressive flavors. Balanced and not too sweet, is is easy to drink yet is complex enough to give one something to think about.
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 04, 2014
The 1990 vintage is a soft and supple whisky bottled at 100 proof that really captures the rich, cakey, textural elements of Oloroso sherry. A special marriage of sherry butts all chosen from one particularly good year at Glenfarclas, it’s a straightforward, easy-to-like, and deliciously round whisky that offers easy accessibility, but also depth. When you’re thinking about 24 year old, sherry-aged single malt it’s exactly what you hope it will be. Not big, not powerful, not overly-sweet, not sulphured or bitter from too much time in wood, and not all that spicy. Just flat-out awesome in the most basic of ways. This is our replacement to the 18 year old Glendronach casks we used to do annually. We just added an extra 6 years of maturity. Hot deal.
Macallan Rare Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $300) ($269.99)
Macallan’s new Rare Cask uses handpicked first-fill sherry casks from the top 1% of barrels currently aging at the distillery. The result is a richer, darker, more chocolately version of Macallan with a thicker profile and a complex palate of raisins, sultana, orange peel, and ginger. With the current market craze for first-fill sherry whisky, a la Aberlour A’Bunadh and Glendronach, the Rare Cask represents an aggressive and more modern approach from the typically conservative Macallan. This is bold, chewy, full-bodied single malt that showcases the deep stocks and the immaculate wood management from Scotland’s most iconic distillery. It’s a whisky that provides a peek into the most choice sherry-aged whiskies currently available. (NOTE: The Macallan Rare Cask comes with a gift box which will ship as an additional bottle charge)
David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 16, 2015
I’m one of those guys who would rather drink the richer, more robust flavor of sherry on the palate rather than an age statement or a number. There’s no 12 or 18 on the label of the Macallan Rare Cask because the distillery uses a variety of ages, from top quality sherry butts, to create the Rare Cask. If you can get past the uncertainty, you’ll be rewarded with fudge, decadent cocoa, and spice cake. If you like Macallan, there’s no way you’ll be disappointed.
K&L Wine Merchants
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Email: wine@klwines.com
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