2024 is the year of the Sherry casks!
If you’ve been exploring the world of whisky, you’ll be aware that the huge variety of styles, sometimes with completely different characteristics that can make the term ‘whisky’ feel a little inadequate.
One such style are Sherry cask whiskies which are prized for the spicy, nutty and rich dried fruits notes that they can contribute to whisky, as well as a deep mahogany colour.
There are notable variations depending on the type of sherry that was previously in the cask, from a dry oloroso to sweet Pedro Ximenez and beyond.
As mentioned, one such distinctive flavour profile is imparted by the use of oloroso sherry barrels whuich are crafted in Spain’s Jerez region. These casks, having aged sherry for years, bestow whiskies with a nuanced sweetness and deep mahogany hues.
This marriage of malt and sherry creates a lovely combination of flavours, making them a coveted choice among aficionados!
Search The SMWS for SHERRY-CASK WHISKIES!
(Please note that you cannot buy SMWS Whiskies unless you are a member)
New members can now receive an exclusive 10% discount on their first year of membership and a bottle by using this code at the checkout: SHERRY10
Many thanks to The SMWS (@SMWSUK) who have kindly sent me a Sherry cask whisky sample to try – Thanks SMWS!
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Tasting Notes – “Glazed with Marmalade” Cask No: 36.201
16 Years old
Deep Rich & Dried Fruits flavour profile
Cask Type: 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
Origin: Scotland
Region: Speyside
ABV: 59.7%
“After 13 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this to a first fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead for the remainder of its maturation”
 Nose: Sweet apple, cherries, creamy strudel, sherry, toffee and black pepper – a lovely combination! Palate: Apple with sugared cherries, dried fruits, toffee and creamy biscuit. Finish: A lingering, fruity sweetness with all the flavours of the palate plus plenty of hot, black pepper – YUM! Overall: There’s lots of depth to this dram and the ABV gives it plenty of punch. If you wish, adding a few drops of water (it can take more than a few drops though!) makes the taste more savoury and creamy but don’t worry, there’s still bags of fruitiness and the presence of the cherries is a delight! |
SMWS hits the road!
During May SMWS hits the road visiting various festivals and whisky celebrations around Scotland and further afield. Below is a list of key dates and locations providing opportunities for SMWS members and non-members to catch up with the Society and sample our whisky.
Scottish Festivals
Spirit of Speyside: 1st – 6th May 2024
30/4/24 (19:30-22:00) SMWS Dinner & Tasting @ The Quaich
The Islay Festival (Fèis Ìle) – 25th May – 1st June
27/5/24 (12:30-17:30) SMWS takeover of The Ballygrant
27/5/24 (19:30-22:00) SMWS Dinner & Tasting @ The Ballygrant
28/5/24 (10:00-21:00) SAMPLING STAND @ The Indie Bottler Festival
28/5/24 (14:15-15:00) SMWS PEAT & SHERRY Masterclass @ IBF
28/5/24 (18:15-19:00) SMWS PEAT & SHERRY Masterclass @ IBF
29/5/24 (19:00-21:30) SCOTCH AND SHERRY: A Flavour Odyssey – Screening of the Documentary and Tasting at The Machrie
30/5/24 (19:00-21:30) SCOTCH AND SHERRY: A Flavour Odyssey – Screening of Scotch & Sherry documentary and Tasting at The Machrie
SMWS Members’ Rooms
EU Festivals and Events (non-members welcome)
12/5/24 – Festival tasting – Stuttgart
25/5/24 – Festival tasting – Limburg
25/5/24 – Festival tasting – Furth
Whisky Tastings around the UK & EU (non-members welcome)
A full list of upcoming UK whisky tastings and events can be found here
A full list of upcoming EU whisky tastings and events can be found here
Valid to the end of June 2024, visit the events page here for dates and location
About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and has 37,000 members around the world.
• It is owned by The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask and single malt whisky, exclusive blends and a range of other Single Cask Spirits.
• The Society has bottled whisky from 180 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 different single malt whiskies every month
• Members have access to four exclusive SMWS Members’ Rooms in Leith, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London along with a global network of 100 partner bars.
• The Society offers a variety of membership options that can be tailored.
• For more information about the Society, visit: https://smws.com/, Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk
About The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC)
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is based in Edinburgh
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world’s best spirits producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.
• ASC owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) and in 2021 it launched J.G. Thomson & Co. Inspired by its namesake, which was originally a wine and spirits merchant in Leith, Scotland, in the 1700s, J.G. Thomson is a new, adventurous blender, creating small batch blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies, rum and gin.
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SMWS Offers & Sampling “For Fawkes’ Sake” – I Wish It Could Be Bonfire Night Every Night!
Sampling The SMWS Advent Calendar – Day 3 – A Christmas Cake Is Pretty Marvellous – And So Is This Dram!
Sampling The SMWS Advent Calendar – Day 4 – Apples With Just A Touch Of Christmas Magic Added For Good Measure!
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