Why sherry is more than just 'seasoning' for whisky casks
I would describe that whisky as a "sherry bomb" which is a term that a lot of whisky enthusiasts use to describe certain whiskies that are really rich in character and have a strong sherry influence.
Some classic Scottish examples of "sherry bombs" are Glenfarclas 105 and Aberlour A'Bunadh that are both bottled at a higher strength as well.
(Image: Newsquest)
Whiskies matured in sherry casks are a popular category and can, for some, be a good way into whisky as they often tend to have a sweet flavour profile, and you will often find "Christmas cake" amongst the tasting notes.
If you can't see the type of sherry cask specified on the whisky, it's most likely ex-oloroso casks, which are very common for maturation.
There are a lot of different kinds of sherry that can be used for maturation and a lot of the time the casks that are used have been "seasoned" which is when a cask holds sherry (or another type of liquid) with the sole purpose of seasoning the cask and adding flavour to the wood, rather than to be used for sherry production. The cask is then emptied and ready to be used for maturing whisky.
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The casks can be either American oak or European oak, where the former often brings more sweetness and the latter more spice. Some distilleries have also managed to get hold of bodega casks that have been used for sherry production, but they tend to be seen quite rarely.
Sherry is not very popular nowadays and I do sometimes wonder what it would've been like to experience the heyday of the drink.
I wish more people would appreciate this fortified wine, which is wonderfully complex and varied within its own category and not just good as a seasoning liquid for whisky casks.
I think people who really enjoy their rich sherry bombs could easily appreciate a sweet Pedro Ximénez - which has a flavour profile I often describe as melted alcoholic raisins, or the nuttier Oloroso, which is one of my favourite types of sherry to drink neat.
I would definitely recommend whisky drinkers try a little sip of the same type of sherry that has been used for the maturation of your favourite whisky, alongside a dram of that whisky to explore and discover what characteristics the two share and what the maturation might've imparted.
My whisky of the week is the Swiss Mountain 12 Year Old Ice Label 2025 from Rugen distillery at Interlaken. This whisky has been matured exclusively in oloroso sherry casks made from American oak. The first four years of maturation take place at the Rugenbräu in a historic rock cellar before moving to an ice grotto at Jungfraujoch for another eight years of maturation.
The nose holds leather, honey, pears and toffee. The palate is a rich and vibrant sherried character with sweetness, dried fruits and a long lingering finish. The character of the Oloroso sherry really shone through, which I very much enjoyed.
I thought this was a lovely whisky and especially so if you like a really powerful and rich flavour.
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