Single Cask American Oak – Ex Vintage Tawny Port Barrel

Status: Released July 2024

Cigar Pairing: Maduro wrappers, heavy-bodied natural-casing cigars, or dark wrapper Cubans.

Food Pairing: Daffenois cheese, duck liver paté.

A single malt fully matured in a single cask of American oak, formerly the sanctuary for decades-old Vintage Tawny Port. A testament to the decades-long dialogue between spirit and cask, connoisseurs can expect a sensory journey like no other.

Vintage Tawny Port carries genuine weight as a designation. Unlike non-vintage Tawny, which is blended across multiple years to achieve a consistent house style, a Vintage Tawny originates from a single harvest, one year’s fruit, preserved and concentrated over decades in small barrels. The cask provenance of a vessel that held such a wine is specific and irreplaceable. When that cask is used for whisky maturation, what transfers is not simply a wine character but the accumulated record of a particular vintage and its slow evolution over time.

The rancio character noted in the tasting notes is a direct consequence of this. Rancio, a savoury, nutty, oxidative quality associated with long-aged Cognacs, Armagnacs, and fortified wines, is rarely encountered in whisky. Its presence here is a direct inheritance from the cask.

Tasting Notes

Nose. Rich dried fruits, figs, and a nuanced sweetness that resonates with the light notes of American oak.

Palate. Velvety chocolate, honeyed almonds, and the subtle interplay of oak weave seamlessly. The inheritance of rancio introduces a savoury depth, a rare quality often associated with the ageing process of select Cognacs, Armagnacs, and fortified wines. This delicate touch elevates the whisky into the realm of a delicacy, offering a savoury umami character that lingers and evolves on the palate.

Finish. Luxurious and silky. Notes of vanilla, toffee, oolong tea, and spice unfold, showcasing the intricacies that only prolonged maturation in a singular cask can bestow. A grand finale, echoes of dark fruits and oak accompanied by the lingering elegance of warmed cashews, portobello mushrooms, and whispers of wet earth, folding together in a balanced, rare, and delicate dance. A profile to explore further with a considered cigar pairing.

Check Out Whisky Tasting Notes from James Phang on Instagram

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Technical Details

Edition: 2.09

ABV: 43.4%

Cask type: Single cask, American Oak, ex-Vintage Tawny Port

Status: Released July 2024