For a couple of years, we’d discussed an idea of trying finished whiskies paired with the wine/sherry types they’re finished in, but it’s hard to find a consistent base spirit that enables this type of tasting. If you’re using all different whiskies as the base, how can you parse out the influence of the wine cask vs the base spirit?

Enter Glenallachie! We connected with James Bornn of Authentic Wine & Spirits, the representatives of Glenallachie in Canada, and they helped set up an incredible tasting that would showcase the wine-cask influence beautifully!

We started off with an older bottling of the Glenallachie 12. This one isn’t finished in any sherry and helped ground us in the base spirit that is Glenallachie. For many, this actually was the favourite of the line-up – a beautiful ex-bourbon malt.

We followed that with the trio of current sherry finished bottlings, all 9 years old, same ABV, all finished for similar durations, and we paired each one with an accompanying sherry pour to try and pick out the influence the cask had on the base spirit.

Starting with the Fino finish, paired with Tio Pepe dry fino sherry, we learned about the layer of flor which keeps the sherry from oxidizing and gives it a bit of a dry yeasty funk. For many, this was the first time they’d heard this and it enlightened us to flavours we’ve found on other fino finished whiskies in the past.

Following that, the Amontillado showed us the balance between Fino and sweeter sherries, and we paired this with Emilio Lustau.

Finally the Oloroso, paired with Faraon was a favourite for many as well, and brought the familiar nutty, leather and dried fruit we love on so many sherried scotches.

The last was an older 9yr bottling finished in dry Douro red wine casks, which we paired with Casa de Cambres Reserva. This was delicious as well and the brighter fruit notes were a fresh finish to the lineup.

Overall, a very informative and enlightening event! All pics by Leemarc Lao!