Review - The One Sherry Cask Finished

The One Sherry Cask Finished is a new release from The Lakes distillery and join its range of The One, their blended whisky offering. It joins the Signature Blend, Port Cask Finished and recently released Orange Wine Cask Finished. As with each of The One expressions, this whisky has The Lakes' single malt at its heart and is then blended with Scotch single grain and single malts from the Highlands, Islay and Speyside. The Sherry Cask Finish has been matured in first-fill American oak casks and finished in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez casks. These have been sourced from the famous sherry producing town of Jerez in the south of Spain

The Lakes distillery is located near Bassenthwaite Lake in the north English county of Cumbria. It was founded by Paul Currie and a consortium of private investors. Production began in 2014 and current capacity is 240,000 litres of spirit per year. There are two copper pot whisky stills and another still for the production of gin. The distillery also has an award-winning visitor centre and has become one of the leading new attractions in the Lake District area.

The One Sherry Cask Finished is bottled at 46.6% ABV and is also non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It retails for £48 a bottle and there are just 4,512 bottles. It is available from selected specialist retailers and via www.lakesdistillery.com.

 

Our tasting notes 

The colour is a deep chestnut brown and the nose is full of rich aromas. First come dark dried fruits (think of raisins, sultanas and currants) along with toffee and caramel. Underneath are further aromas of toasted oak, baking spice (cinnamon and all-spice with hints of white pepper and cedarwood), malted cereals and candied orange peel.

On the palate this whisky is immediately rich and sweet with a viscous mouthfeel. Notes of caramel and apple crumble lead the way and these are quickly joined by the dark dried fruits from the nose - think of raisins, sultanas and currants again, plus apricot and fig. The combination works well and is then also complimented by an increasing note of woody baking spices - imagine cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg with a pinch of ginger powder. This adds some dryness and warmth. Underneath are hints of cocoa and black treacle, plus the candied orange from the nose.

The finish is of decent length and begins in the rich and sweet vein before turning spicier and drier. The caramel and dried fruit notes fade to leave the baking spices and savoury notes to the fore. The bittersweet cereals also reapper to add further depth.

What's the verdict?

The One Sherry Cask Finished is a lovely whisky and one that would be great to show a beginner the joys of ex-sherry cask matured whiskies. It exhibits plenty of depth, complexity and classic sherry cask characteristics such as caramel, spice and dried fruits but without getting too savoury or complicated. A very nice example of a blended sherry cask influenced whisky. Lovely and enjoyable to drink.