10 tips for experimental whisky that will enchant you
We have prepared for you a list of the ten most interesting experimental or in other words non-traditional whisky from Ireland, Scotland and Japan. They are excited by classics, experts but also novices in the world of whisky.
Surely it has ever happened to you that you wanted to try something new, discover new tastes, smells and be surprised. People from various whisky distilleries around the world have said the same. Therefore, they took their best drink and decided to finish it in unusual, interesting or rarely seen barrels.
Each whiskey on this list is something special and unique. If you decide to overcome the stereotype of classic whisky and choose from these most unusual cask whisky by far, you will certainly not regret it.
1) The Irishman Founder's Reserve Caribbean Cask Finish
Have you ever wondered how a combination of rum and whiskey can taste? You don't have to think anymore! This great Irish whiskey, first matured in American oak barrels and then matured in tropical Caribbean barrels from the island of St. Lucy (more precisely 6 months in barrels after a great rum Chairman's Reserve).
It is a very exceptional whiskey made in a limited number of 12 barrels, each of which was filled into 380 bottles, which makes it an even rarer piece. Each bottle of this whiskey is individually numbered and bears the signature of Bernard Walsh.
Aroma: exotic rum, apricots, summer fruits
Taste: an explosion of tropical fruits and energetic spices
Finish: figs, bananas and oak seasoned typically Caribbean
2) Writers Tears Florio Marsala Cask Finish
Limited edition triple distilled, naturally unfiltered and unsmoked whisky Writers Tears Florio Marsala Cask Finish. This whiskey was created by mixing Single Pot Still and Single Malt whisky, which matured in American ex-bourbon barrels. Following this, the whiskey will undergo a 12-month final maturation in special wooden Hogshead barrels after Marsala wine from the beautiful Italian vineyard Florio in Sicily. Whisky Writers Tears Florio Marsala Cask Finish is filled in bottles with 45 % alcohol content (5% higher than you are used to in its original version Writers Tears) and is packed in an attractive gift box.
Made in a limited number of 2430 bottles!
Aroma: rich aroma of golden syrup and orchard fruit, tones of Marsala wine
Taste: caramelized apples, spicy nuts and flower honey
Finish: a breath of sea air directly from the Sicilian mountains
3) The GlenAllachie 13 ročná Rioja Wine Cask Finish
Limited edition 13-year-old Single Malt whisky GlenAllachie Rioja Wine Cask Finish with excellent taste. It matures for 11 years in ex-bourbon American oak barrels in the Speyside area and then for 2 years in ex-wine Barrique barrels in the Rioja region in northern Spain. This whisky belongs to the Wine Cask series. Rioja is one of the most respected wine regions in Spain and is known for producing amazing and exotic wine flavors. This golden Single Malt gained its nutty, honey and fruity character from ex-wine Barrique barrels. It is not filtered and has a natural amber color. The bottle is in a nice gift box.
Color: amber
Aroma: barley, honey, raspberries, flowers, spices, nuts
Taste: orange, grapefruit, nuts, peanut butter
Finish: caramel, licorice, pleasant
4) Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch 8
Glengoyne is coming out with the eighth edition of Cask Strength. These bottles show the typical rich and strong profile of Glengoyne whisky and are therefore always very popular. Glengoyne is described as the slowest distillery. They know that their patience will be rewarded. Every minute another whiskey spends in the cauldron, Glengoyne whisky spends three there.
Cask Strength is a Scottish single mortar from the Highland region, bottled in full force and in the purest form. Untamed and unfettered. As if you drank straight from the barrel! Whiskey batch 8 matured from one third in sherry barrels, from two thirds in bourbon barrels. And the result? Spicy armor that gives way to a robust tone of ripe bananas, biscuits and cinnamon.
Aroma: tempting, malt with apple pie, peaches, vanilla, nutmeg, white chocolate
Taste: dense rounded mouthfeel, buttery caramel popcorn, banana, soft oak and fruit
Finish: long, summer fruit, biscuits, kiwi
5) Blandoch Samsara Single Malt
Samsara means rebirth. And this excellent blend was created right on the occasion of the reopening of the Bladnoch Distilleries in the Lowland area. Although it does not have an age designation, it is made from at least 8 years old whisky. Bourbon and California red wine barrels are used for maturation.
Color: copper gold
Aroma: vanilla cream, flowers, freshly chopped apples
Taste: thick vanilla fondant, sweet floral grass
Finish: refreshing citrus taste stays in the mouth for a long time
6) Glen Scotia Festival Release 2021
The limited edition 10-year-old Single Malt Festival Scotch Whisky Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival Edition 2021 matures in oak ex-bourbon barrels and the last 5 months in ex-bordeaux barrels. Thanks to maturing in red wine barrels, whiskey has acquired very tasty fruit and spicy tones. The manager and Chief Distillery McAlister oversaw the entire production of this whisky at Glen Scotia Distillery. This whisky was created on the occasion of the annual Campbeltown Malts festival in Scotland. The bottle is packed in a gift box.
Color: amber
Aroma: red grapes, nectarine, elegant
Taste: apples, red fruit, milk chocolate, cane sugar
Finish: chocolate, jelly, fondant
7) Kamiki Sakura Wood Whisky
Kamiki Sakura Wood is the first whisky in the world aged in barrels made of rare cedar and sakura wood. It is also the first whisky in the world that has matured in up to three types of barrels - first in oak, second in cedar and finally in sakura.
It basically houses an original and highly rated Japanese blended Kamiki malt whisky. It is made from carefully selected Japanese barley whiskey mixed with the best whisky from around the world and Japanese spring water. It is an exceptional whisky that is definitely worth tasting!
Aroma: ripe bananas, candied chestnuts. cinnamon and a hint of pine, warm woody
Taste: woody, sandalwood and delicate spices, sweet cherries, tones of spring flowers
Finish: with a little water, tones of hibiscus and Turkish sweets develop lokum
8) The Quiet Man 12 ročná Bordeaux Cask
Limited edition Irish whisky The Quiet Man 12-year-old Single Malt Bordeaux Cask Finish, which first matured in bourbon barrels for 12 years and then finally matured in French oak barrels after Bordeaux red wine for another 8 months, which gave it an exceptional finish.
Color: ruby red
Aroma: black cherries and licorice
Taste: rich taste of red berries, citrus, vanilla, butter caramel
Finish: dried fruits, spices and chocolate
9) Tamdhu 12 ročná Sherry Oak Casks
The rich and elegant single malt whiskey Tamdhu has matured exclusively in the best Oloroso sherry barrels for 12 years. Sheryside whiskeys from Speyside are always delicious with fruity and spicy tones. This rare wood adds two great things to whisky - color and flavor.
Tamdhu Distillery was founded in 1879 on the banks of the River Spey. Since then, every whiskey has been produced with the same care - starting with water drawn from their own springs.
Aroma: cinnamon, fresh sweet oak, traces of mint
Taste: soft with tones of banana, barley, biscuits, sherry wood
Finish: long and balanced, spicy, dried fruit with a bit of peat smoke
10) The Whistler Single Malt PX I Love You
Irish single malt whisky Whistler P.X. I Love You is a fantastic example of the combination of sherry Pedro Ximénez (PX) and the influence that barrels have after this fortified wine on the exceptional Irish single malt whiskey. Whisky Whistler Single Malt PX I love You is a 100% barley whiskey, initially matured in bourbon barrels and subsequently matured for at least 9 months in PX barrels, during which it has taken in delicious sherry tones.
Unfiltered.
No added dyes.
Aroma: fantastic sherry tones, dried berries, raisins, cherries, yellow raisins, candied orange and brown demerara sugar
Taste: woody introduction with a viscous and sharp taste, dried fruit, brown sugar, walnuts, citrus and a hint of skin
Finish: walnuts, dried fruit, slightly woody-bitter tones leading to a long dry finish with a subtle hint of dark chocolate
