StarSurfer55 Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 Call me a traditionalist but I have found that I prefer the traditional oak aging process over the use of sherry casks. In fact, I prefer a number 4 char over the lighter chars as I tend to like the caramel and vanilla notes. But since a lot of whiskeys, particularly Scotch Whiskeys, are aged in spent sherry casks, I wonder if I am missing something. I wanted to get some insight from those that have learned to enjoy both. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry in WashDC Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 4 minutes ago, StarSurfer55 said: Call me a traditionalist but I have found that I prefer the traditional oak aging process over the use of sherry casks. In fact, I prefer a number 4 char over the lighter chars as I tend to like the caramel and vanilla notes. But since a lot of whiskeys, particularly Scotch Whiskeys, are aged in spent sherry casks, I wonder if I am missing something. I wanted to get some insight from those that have learned to enjoy both. My insight is anecdotal, BUT . . . About the time Angel's Envy was purchased, SB featured a spate of threads discussing the pros and cons of "finished" bourbons. The most common complaint/comment/observation was about the effect that the additional "flavor" had on the relative sweetness of the underlying American whiskey - most of the "No, thanks," group didn't like the added sweetness. I've had a few awful ones, but a couple - Jos. A. Magnus, A.Smith Bowman's Isaac Bowman Port Finished (Saz/BT subsidiary), and some of Dave Pickerell's offerings - really do satisfy me. And while I don't care for the peatier Scotches, I do like some of the lighter blends. Am I, too, missing something by being fussy? Yup. Do I care? Nope. Do I sometimes order up a really peaty Scotch just to see if I still don't like it? Yup. Do I now have a few Scotches sitting in amongst my bourbons which for years only included my wife's Lagavulin 16 and a half-full Dewer's for guests? Yup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinbrink Posted May 4, 2018 Share Posted May 4, 2018 17 minutes ago, StarSurfer55 said: Call me a traditionalist but I have found that I prefer the traditional oak aging process over the use of sherry casks. In fact, I prefer a number 4 char over the lighter chars as I tend to like the caramel and vanilla notes. But since a lot of whiskeys, particularly Scotch Whiskeys, are aged in spent sherry casks, I wonder if I am missing something. I wanted to get some insight from those that have learned to enjoy both. It definitely depends on the whiskey to me and familiarity is an important thing to consider. For example I have yet to have a Malt Whiskey aged in Virgin Oak that blows me away, there are some I can appreciate as an occasional pour, but is that because of what I expect a Malt whiskey to taste like or because Malt and Used Oak marry together better? I tend to like Sherry aged and finished whiskies but generally enjoy Port and Sauternes more when it comes to sweet wine finishes. The only really great sherry finished American Whiskey I have had that I can think of at the moment was the 1776 PX Rye, some others I liked fine (Belle Meade, Minor Case, probably others I can't think of) but I've yet to have a Sherried American Malt whiskey that tasted like anything better than underaged Scotch to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarSurfer55 Posted May 5, 2018 Author Share Posted May 5, 2018 Maybe it was my experience. I was given a bottle of Wayne Gretzky’s whiskey (old 99) that is finished in sherry casks and did not care for it. I have had a scotch tasting a few years back where we were given two samples of the same scotch with one finished in Bourbon barrels and the other in sherry casks. I much preferred the one finished in bourbon barrels. However, I have heard good things about Belle Meade so I will pick up a bottle and give it a try. I will let you know how it goes. Always willing to have my mind changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinbrink Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 12 minutes ago, StarSurfer55 said: Maybe it was my experience. I was given a bottle of Wayne Gretzky’s whiskey (old 99) that is finished in sherry casks and did not care for it. I have had a scotch tasting a few years back where we were given two samples of the same scotch with one finished in Bourbon barrels and the other in sherry casks. I much preferred the one finished in bourbon barrels. However, I have heard good things about Belle Meade so I will pick up a bottle and give it a try. I will let you know how it goes. Always willing to have my mind changed. Well depending on your appreciation of Scotch you could always go to a bar and try a few sherry aged scotches Macallan 12, Aberlour 12 and Glenmorangie Lasanta are good widely available options, those Glenmorangie mini samplers are a good way to try a few different finishes for some "comparative research" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarSurfer55 Posted May 5, 2018 Author Share Posted May 5, 2018 As a scientist, more research is always needed. Otherwise it would just be called search. Thanks for the recommendations. I will give them a try. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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