Peated whisky matured in ex-sherry wood is a hard balancing act to pull off, but the bouquet of ashy smoke, kippers, nutmeg and dried figs leaves one in no doubt that this cask has achieved such a feat! The palate is a similarly harmonious meeting of smoke and sherry with neither too dominant, there’s also complex notes of citrus, icing sugar, tobacco leaf and a little coastal note too. The spicy sherry wood pops on the finish showing dried fruit, cinnamon and dates with a pleasing smoky tang.

Very occasionally Berry Bros & Rudd come across a cask of whisky that for various reasons we are unable to disclose the origins of, and whilst we would usually try to avoid this scenario, some casks are just too good to pass by. This butt from Islay is one such example.