Some issues in life simply work higher collectively and are supposed to be. Fish and chips, salt and pepper, Ant and Dec, nicely, you get my level. One other marriage seemingly made in heaven, and one which shouldn’t work however completely does, is Scotch and sherry.
Now, after I discuss Scotch and sherry, I don’t imply you must pour your self a dram of whisky and prime it up with half a glass of sherry as a result of that will most likely be vile. What I’m speaking about is using sherry casks (often known as butts) for each ageing and ending Scotch whisky.
For a few years now, sherry casks have performed an integral position within the ending of a few of the world’s best whiskies, and I need to assist you understand precisely why that’s. That’s why at the moment, I’m going to be speaking to you about Scotch and sherry and why sherry casks have helped to supply a few of the best whisky in historical past.
A Transient Historical past of Whisky and Sherry Casks
These days in terms of ageing whisky, it’s sometimes ex-bourbon barrels which might be used, made out of American oak. There are a selection of causes for why that is, although initially, like most issues in life, it got here all the way down to price.
You see, in America, by legislation, bourbon needed to be aged in virgin oak casks. This meant that the oak needed to be model new. As soon as the whisky had been aged and the casks had carried out their job, that was it, they wanted to be disposed of. Quite than burning them or turning them into firewood, the distilleries would promote them to different whisky makers internationally, with completely different legal guidelines and rules.
In Scotland for instance, there was nothing stating that wood casks couldn’t be re-used, even when they beforehand held a special liquid inside. Scottish distilleries would buy the ex-bourbon American oak casks for very reasonably priced costs, so ex-bourbon American oak casks turned the norm. This wasn’t at all times the case.
From across the 16th century, sherry was one of the vital widespread drinks within the UK. The sherry can be imported from Spain in giant sherry casks, or butts, as they had been recognized. Usually made out of European oak, which was available, it was cheaper for Spain to easily make new barrels as an alternative of getting the previous ones shipped again to them as soon as the sherry had been bottled. This meant that the UK had a glut of ex-sherry casks which had been excellent for Scotch whisky distilleries.
Because the centuries handed by, sherry casks had been very generally used for storing whisky, and it simply so occurred that the whisky would tackle a tremendous flavour within the course of. This was the case up till the Seventies when the Spanish started bottling sherry in Spain.
By 1986, it was a authorized requirement for sherry to be bottled in Spain so even fewer casks made their method over to the UK. The ultimate nail within the coffin got here when the Spanish started fermenting their sherry in stainless-steel barrels as an alternative. To assist fill the hole, lots of the distilleries within the UK started utilizing American oak ex-bourbon barrels as an alternative.
Sherry Seasoning
Some distilleries nevertheless, believed that the sherry notes had been key to their signature blends and they also had been decided to make use of sherry casks.
Now, you’d assume that they’d merely be capable of pay the Spanish sherry producers (bodegas) for the previous casks they didn’t need however sadly that wasn’t the case. The Spanish would typically mix completely different sherries collectively so casks would by no means run empty. Some would comprise sherry that was over a century previous. They might solely do away with the barrels after they’d rot or just fell aside.
So, the place did this go away the Scotch whisky distillers determined for these much-loved sherry notes of their whisky? Effectively, that is the place the idea of ‘sherry seasoning’ took place. Right here, sometimes European oak barrels can be stuffed with sherry and left in a warehouse to season for 18 months. Throughout this time the sherry would penetrate the wooden and impart all of its fantastic flavour. As soon as carried out, the sherry would both be bottled, fortified into brandy, and even used as vinegar and the casks might be used for ageing or ending whisky.
This course of proved to be pretty economical, and it meant that the distilleries had entry to a plentiful provide of sherry casks. After all, completely different sherry casks might be sourced, some Spanish sherry producers would promote them, and a few can be seasoned for longer to impart extra sherry notes.
Why Sherry and Scotch Simply Appear to Work
Sherry is a fortified wine which is primarily made out of white Palomino grapes close to town of Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. It is available in quite a lot of completely different kinds although primarily you’ve the smoother and sweeter PX (Pedro Ximenez) and Cream sherry, and Oloroso sherry, which is darker, richer, and extra advanced.
Now, on paper, sherry and whisky couldn’t be any extra completely different. Not solely are they made out of utterly various things, however they’re additionally produced in very completely different environments. The Scottish local weather for instance, is actually not corresponding to that of Spain. Regardless of this, the flavours, notes, aromas, and profiles of those two drinks appear to go with one another splendidly.
The European oak used within the casks for instance, particularly Spanish oak, is softer and extra porous and helps the sherry notes to penetrate deeper into the cask. As soon as the whisky is added the open grain once more permits the whisky to soak deeper into the wooden the place it picks up these tell-tale sherry flavours and profiles. This helps give the whisky physique, attracts out advanced, wealthy, and complicated flavours and offers it an exquisite darkish amber color as nicely.
Sherry cask-finished whisky tends to have plenty of sherry notes comparable to raisins, dates, sultanas, nuts, darkish chocolate, and vanilla oak. These work splendidly with most flavours you get from whisky, like fruit, vanilla, oak, toffee, honey, and caramel. Mix these collectively, and it’s no marvel why sherry cask-finished whisky is so extremely widespread.
For those who’d wish to study extra about your favorite whiskies, or just deal with your self to a dram or two within the course of, head on over to GreatDrams.com and check out what now we have to supply.
With a formidable number of limited-edition, uncommon, and award-winning whisky, in addition to heaps of whisky information on our weblog, it’s the proper spot for any whisky lovers on the market.
