Whiskies aged in first-fill Sherry butts are especially so, and those drawn entirely from such sherried stock are invariably known as “sherry bombs” for the potent flavors the malt whisky has derived from its time spent mingling with the sherry-soaked wood. The ‘Sherried’ character, therefore, is down to the Sherry itself, but also oxidation and the way in which the Sherry has interacted with and changed compounds in the oak. All of these then interact over time with the maturing spirit.

The Sherry and wood form a pincer movement that stamps out distillery character or any sense of identity in the distillate itself. For me, a great Sherry-matured malt should possess a balance between distillery identity, fruitiness, earthiness and a lick of spice. Sherry bombs almost always eschew this tightrope balance in favor of heat, density and aggression of wood flavor.

Unveiled in 2014, the 15 Year Old Single Barrel Sherry Cask is a wonderful sight from Balvenie – single malt Scotch whisky fully matured in Sherry casks. These are released in batches of no larger than 800 bottles from a single cask, each one being hand numbered. Although no two casks are the same, and therefore won’t produce an identical single malt, the casks are carefully selected by Balvenie’s Malt Master and feature a consistent, rich, spiced character, complimented by hints of elegant oak.

This Balvenie expression is matured for at least 15 years in a traditional ex-bourbon cask, and not to be confused with The Balvenie 15-Year-Old Single Barrel Sherry Cask Scotch. Bottles are drawn from each barrel, and as these are single barrel releases, each barrel is its own animal.

Cask: single European oak sherry butt for min 15 years.ABV: 47.8%. Color: Rich golden. 

The term ‘Single Barrel’ is the unique nature of the single malt whisky, which has been drawn from a single cask of a single distillation

Nose
Dense Christmas cake with icing, full of sticky, syrupy dried fruits, cherries, finely chopped nuts and grated nutmeg. Flamed orange peel, ginger, a hint of struck match, fresh orange segments and plums develop.With a fragrant aroma of vanilla, honeyed sweetness, hints of heather and dry oaky notes.

Palate
Big old fashioned Sherry matured character, more bread-like fruitcake, malt loaf and nutty Oloroso. Slightly bitter and rum-like, rich and complex, suggestive of years of careful ageing, it has a honeyed maltiness with vanilla, oak flavors and delicate spice notes. A few drops of water cuts down on the sweetness and kicks up a more perfumed aspect of this release.

Finish
Long and complex with a hint of liquorice and spicy fruitcake with cocoa.

Balance, Body & Feel
Classic Sherry matured whisky, really top stuff. This whisky is exceptional for its honey-heather flavors and aromas, which arise from the heather growing in the hills above the distillery’s location