Distillers use cask finishes to age their scotch whisky, resulting in new flavor profiles for their expressions. Choosing a more exotic cask finish really makes their expressions unique!
Jump to:
- Fancy scotch finishes
- My Tasting Notes
- Glen Moray 10 Year Chardonnay Cask
- Tomatin 14 Year Port Cask
- Glenmorangie Bacalta Madeira Cask
- Kilchoman Sauternes Cask
- Gordon & MacPhail Sassicaia Cask Caol Ila
- Glenfiddich 12yr IPA (Mystery Pour)
- Pairing food with scotch
- Final Thoughts
- More scotch tasting notes by region
- Comments
The wonderful thing about whisk(e)y in general, and scotch in particular, is the great variety that can be achieved by in what (and how long) the distillate is aged.
I've already written about how the scotch industry reuses casks. Indeed, much of what I've tasted in my experience so far are drams that have been aged in sherry casks and a few in port casks.
Given the popularity of these finishes, you would expect that the supply of available casks is competitive. Some producers are turning to other types of casks as a substitute, with the result being surprising and delightful.
Cask influence on a particular spirit varies greatly based on the wood and what was in the cask before.
And I've come to learn that choosing exotic cask finishes and food pairings with whisky both are arts requiring a skilled palate.
Fancy scotch finishes
Holly Seidewand, Gordon's new Whiskey Specialist, recently presented a wonderful and highly informative scotch tasting seminar called Exotic Cask Finishes.
I was lucky enough not only to attend, but I was able to stretch my culinary wings a bit and provide a food pairing for one of the samples, the Glenmorangie Bacalta, a first for me! I'll talk more about the pairing in a bit (ok, now don't forget!), but let's get back to the finishes.
One small note…because I was also prepping and serving my pairings, my attention was distracted somewhat and my tasting notes aren't as detailed as I would like. I have added some more notes after the fact.
My Tasting Notes
Exotic Cask Finishes Scotch Seminar
Hosted by: Holly Seidewand
At Gordon's Fine Wines and Liquors, Waltham, MA, April 20, 2017
Glen Moray 10 Year Chardonnay Cask
40%ABV, Speyside
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Scotch, Single Malt, Speyside, Whisky, Wine Cask Finish
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Vanilla, peach, grapes; with water, mineral forward
- Taste: Minerals, pine, oily, medium body; with water, fruitier, green grapes
- Finish: Fades to fruit & pepper; with water still spicy
Comments
Matured entirely in a chardonnay cask so you get the buttery, green fruit taste
Tomatin 14 Year Port Cask
46%ABV, Highland
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Bourbon Cask Finish, Highland, Port Cask Finish, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Vanilla
- Taste: Strong port, sweet
- Finish: Cherry finish
Comments
Wonderful!! My favorite of the lot. The port cask isn't as exotic as the others, but it gives a sweet red fruit note.
Glenmorangie Bacalta Madeira Cask
46% ABV
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Bourbon Cask Finish, Highland, Madeira Cask Finish, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Light citrus, evergreen
- Taste: Smooth entrance, thick, pine, sweet
- Finish: Green finish
Comments
This one I've tasted before and loved. Madeira gives a sweet, cooked fruit element.
Kilchoman Sauternes Cask
50%ABV, Islay
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Bourbon Cask Finish, Islay, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky, Wine Cask Finish
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Sautéed mushroom in butter, a bonfire on the beach
- Taste: A campfire on the tongue, ashy, smoke doesn't hit but slides in, major body, soft, not peppery
- Finish: Eases off the tongue
Comments
Fab! A nice pour for a summer evening. 5 years only in Sauternes wine, a sweet, minerally white wine. Good balance with the smoke.
Gordon & MacPhail Sassicaia Cask Caol Ila
45%ABV, Islay
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Islay, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky, Wine Cask Finish
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Caramel, smoke slightly; with water, get sweet fruit
- Taste: Orange peel, easy smoke; with water, sweeter, fruit comes out, still has peat
- Finish: No real finish, puff of smoke; with water pepper rises finish lasts more
Comments
Pronounced "Ko Eela"; Sassicaia is a Bordeaux-style dry red wine.
Glenfiddich 12yr IPA (Mystery Pour)
43%ABV, Speyside
Type: Scottish
Keywords: IPA Beer Cask Finish, Scotch, Single Malt, Speyside, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Sweet ripe peaches
- Taste: Sweet, oily, thick body, pear
- Finish: Lasts, mint at the end
Comments
Very good. Finished in IPA 3 mo, gives a floral "hoppy" notes to the aroma
Pairing food with scotch
As with everything to do with tastings, pairing a food with a particular expression is going to be highly subjective.
You can try to complement a flavor note or contrast it, going sweet or savory in the process. I had tried the Glenmorangie Bacalta before and had an idea of its flavors on my palate. In fact, the notes I gave above are from that previous tasting (again, I was busy serving so I didn't get to try it at the seminar).
I chose to play up the apricot and menthol elements of the pour. I presented Apricot Tartlets featuring a homemade shortcrust pastry filled with organic apricot jam, playing up the fruity notes of the expression.
For the "green" taste, I served Rosemary Sourdough Focaccia with a drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze. These contrasting flavors mimicked the Bacalta itself.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the snacks and several people commented favorably as to the pairing choices.
Final Thoughts
I loved the thought process involved in coming up with the food pairing ideas.
There's that aspect of creatively using my own experiences with both food and scotch to decide what to suggest, as well as learning from others about their relationship to that particular dram.
I hope you'll go off the beaten path and try some of these more exotically finished whiskies. They really start to give scotch a wider spectrum of flavors available.
Now to just think up a snack to have with them. Hmmm...
I hope you like this review! If you've tried any of the expressions and have your own tasting notes, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Slainté! L'chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
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