The Wonder of Wood

Delve into the wonder of wood by exploring four unique casks from the Speyside and Highlands! This selection provides a rare opportunity to learn about the effects of various oak protocols on a whisky’s flavour profile. Commence with an ex-bourbon barrel from the southern Highlands in Cask 135.8 Rugged and medicinal. This will serve as a baseline of sorts as you work your way through the lineup. While a refill barrel will offer more subtle attributes in flavour and texture, the deliciously earthy palate will be fun to revisit as the next drams are examined. Let’s go to a white wine cask next with Cask 37.115 A robotic woodsmith - its additional maturation in a first-fill Moscatel hogshead created wildly tropical aromas and flavours with plenty of dark fruit character as well. Cask 12.25 Stealth truffle pig is impacted heavily by its year in a first-fill charred red wine barrique. The classic expression from this distillery is a butterscotch-type confectionary display, yet here we have dark, spicy and savoury appeal coming through…a stunning example! We conclude with a dram from the southern Highlands in Cask 16.33 Melville’s other monster. As the name suggests, we’re in for a peat-fueled frenzy of a profile enhanced by its barrel aging. All eight years were spent in a re-charred hogshead to bring even more depth of flavour to this heavily peated affair. Enjoy these four casks with curious whisky lovers for a delicious introduction to the wonder of wood!

Cask No. 135.8 - Rugged and medicinal 
Date distilled: April 2002
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 16 years
Alcohol: 56.3%
Region: Highland Southern


Cask No. 37.115- A robotic woodsmith
Date distilled: June 2002
Cask: First-fill Moscatel hogshead
Age: 16 years
Alcohol: 56.4%
Region: Speyside Spey


Cask No. 12.25 - Stealth truffle pig
Date distilled: April 2008
Cask: First-fill charred red wine barrique
Age: 10 years
Alcohol: 60.4%
Region: Speyside Lossie

Cask No. 16.33 - Melville's other monster
Date distilled: December 2009
Cask: Re-charred hogshead
Age: 8 years
Alcohol: 62.0%
Region: Highland Southern