Photo by Mick Rock/Cephas
If you had to pick an all-time favorite finish for whisky—scotch whisky in particular—it would be sherry. It's no accident that nearly all the whiskies in the list we present here are scotches, except for a Finnish rye and an American single malt whose inspiration comes entirely from Scotland. But there are many facets to the role of sherry in scotch whisky, including distinctions between the various sherry styles such as oloroso, manzanilla, and Pedro Ximénez, among others. And there are scotch whiskies that are sherry-finished as opposed to being fully matured in sherry casks. The serious sherried scotch makers contract with bodegas in Jerez (and sometimes own them, in the case of Macallan), and they provide very detailed specifications on how their casks will be built and seasoned. But the truly coveted sherried whiskies are those matured in barrels that actually held sherry for extended periods of time. Those are usually very, very expensive, but also make the most fascinating drink for those who love sherried scotch.
Sherry-Finished
94 points - Lagg Corriecravie Edition Sherry Cask Finished Single Malt Scotch, 55%, $100
This is one of the first single malts from Lagg, a sister distillery of Lochranza Distillery which owns the Arran label and one of the two distilleries on the north end of the island. It's aged in bourbon barrels before spending 6 months in Oloroso Sherry hogsheads sourced directly from Migeul Martin, a family-owned sherry producer also used by Glenfarclas, in Jerez Spain. It's peated at 55 parts per million, along with the other core single malt in this range Lagg Kilmory Editon. On the nose, this malt is perfumed by sweetness and smoke coming together in a rush of cherries jubilee, flambée cherries, and glazed roasted peanuts.
93 points - Bunnahabhain 23 year old Triple Sherry Wood Finished Single Malt Scotch (Fèis Ìle 2024), 53.3%, $714
Indulging the label's penchant for sherry-finished single malts, this cask-strength expression is a triple sherry bomb. Amontillado, manzanilla, and oloroso casks are used to finish this annual limited-edition release, poised to celebrate the Fèis Ìle, a yearly festival encompassing all things Islay single malt whisky. Rich balanced wine flavors from the sherry finish plus barrel char, soapiness, vanilla, and a hint of orange. A long finish of cherry vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate, and black pepper mingles with the fruit flavors, leading to a crescendo of whisky deliciousness.
93 points - Kyrö Malt Rye Oloroso, 47.5%, $43
This expression is one of four in Finnish-based Kyrö Distillery's core range, all made from 100% malted ryes. It is aged in American oak and bourbon barrels and finished in Oloroso sherry casks. The nose has lots of sherry cask character with black cherry, dried vine fruit, Seville orange peel, date, walnut, caramel, and a hint of dry spices.
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93 points - Loch Lomond The Open 24 year old Manzanilla Sherry Wood Single Malt Scotch, 47.1%, $300
In the spirit of commemorating the home of The Open golf championship over several years, this whisky was distilled in 2000 and finished in butts that previously held Manzanilla sherry, a dry coastal white wine originating from the Andalusia region of southern Spain. This is older by 2 years than last year's edition, a 22 year old vintage aged in Spanish Rioja Alta Reserva casks. It’s incredibly fruity and juicy, with red berries, cherry, apple pie, cinnamon, and caraway leading to toffee, marzipan, and salted caramel as it gets creamier. Subtle smoke joins almond paste and cinnamon on the finish.
93 points - Nc’nean Quiet Rebels Gordon Single Malt Scotch, 48.5%, $110
In celebration of employees who work at the Nc'nean, this was selected by long-time distillery manager, Gordon Wood. It boasts a majority finish (74%) in STR (shaved-toasted-recharred) red wine casks, sherry casks (19%), and Rivesaltes wine casks (17%) that previously held Riversaltes wine, a various hued sweet wine from Southern France. Mouthwatering aromas of wild raspberry, candied citrus peel, plum, apple, and coriander seed. The STR, sherry, and Rivesaltes casks used for aging the component whiskies create a luxuriously fruity finish with attractive glimpses of red wine.
91 The Last Drop Tomintoul 55 year old Single Malt Scotch, 41.7%, $8,300
This rare whiskey, the oldest yet from Speyside-based Tominoul Distillery, spent 20 months finishing in Amoroso butts after being distilled in 1968 when the distillery was in its 5 year infancy. A marvel of aging, only 582 bottles were produced. On the palate, there’s dried peach, cocoa, raisin, baked apple, dried citrus, cola, dark chocolate, wood spices, and seasoned oak, with a little lift from the sherry. The finish is drying with seasoned oak, sealing the impression that it’s a venerable old single malt.
Sherry-Matured
95 points - Black Bull 30 year old Sir Nick Faldo Edition Blended Scotch, 50%, $350
This limited edition blend made in celebration of golfer Sir Nick Faldo features whisky vatted together in 1991 and then matured in sherry casks for a minimum of 30 years. The mouthfeel is thick and rich with flavors of heather honey, toffee, dried fruit, peppercorn, baked apple, fruitcake, nutmeg, hazelnut praline, black cherry, and milk chocolate.
94 points - Ardbeg Vintage Y2K 23 year old Single Malt Scotch, 46%, $800
A retrospective homage to the turn of the millennium, this is one in a series of limited-release expressions featuring juice from 2000 which was then aged in bourbon and Oloroso casks. Distilled in Ardbeg’s historic still that was retired in 2001 after 51 years of service, this vintage has a sweet and zesty nose with coal soot, honey-lemon lozenges, Peppermint Pattie, and traces of black licorice.
93 points - Ardnahoe 5 year old Inaugural Release Single Malt Scotch, 50%, $88
A landmark output for Islay whisky maker Ardnahoe, this expression is the first inaugural release from the island in 15 years, following Kilchoman in 2009. It was matured in a combination of bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry casks. It’s well-rounded without seeming youthful, showing baking chocolate and a greater smoke presence rolling into the finish atop waves of sherry fruit. Quite a debut!
93 points - The Impex Collection (Distilled at Pokeno Distillery) 3 year old New Zealand Single Malt (Cask No.20-26), 58.5%, $125
The spirits importer Impex recently released this single-cask expression distilled in New Zealand as a part of a globally inspired portfolio. It stands alongside another lesser-known expression out of Indri, India, and two single malt scotches from Speyside and Highland. This single malt was aged in first-fill casks that previously held Amontillado, a sweet wine made from palomino grape must that has undergone both oxidative and biological fermentation. A smooth palate has those fruit notes showing, along with honeyed apple tart and white pepper, followed by a long sweet finish of honey, clementines, and crème brûlée. Thick and rich, like a great sauternes wine held in balance by spice and oak.
93 points - Isle of Raasay Dùn Cana First Edition Single Malt Scotch, 52%, $100
First matured in first-fill Woodford Reserve rye casks, half of the final product was secondarily matured in Oloroso quarter casks sourced from Bodega Jose, while the remaining half was matured in Pedro Ximenez casks sourced from Miguel Martin. It was then vatted in October 2023 before being bottled into 14,000 units. The second edition of this whisky was released this past September. Lots of cooked fruits on the palate, with cherry, plum, leather, red pear, clove, and black pepper showing just how powerful those sherry quarter casks can be.
92 points - Kilchoman Loch Gorm Single Malt Scotch (2024 Edition), 46%, $125
An annual release for the Islay-based label, this expression is exclusively aged in Oloroso sherry hogsheads and butts sourced from popular Spanish sherry cask producer, Jose Miguel Martin. Waves of smoky marmalade balance with aromas of black cherry, milk chocolate, and sanded oak: The smoke shows a satisfying peaty edge. The sherry cask has loaded this with dried fruit characteristics of sultana, cherry, and citrus peel, matched with chocolate, singed oak, and peat smoke.
92 points - Westland Flagship American Single Malt, 46%, $75
A part of single malt producer Westland's core range, this expression is aged in American Oak, bourbon casks, and first-fill and second-fill oloroso hogsheads and butts. By incorporating Scottish peat and sherry finishing into this five-malt mashbill, it pays homage to the three previous expressions from the core range. The palate is lush, honeyed, and fruity, with notes of apricots, sliced apples, blackberries, chocolate bar, and hints of wafting cigar smoke. The whiskey is light on its feet, yet full-bodied.
90 points - Little Rest Double Matured Cask Strength American Single Malt, 62.6%, $135
From New York’s Tenmile Distillery, this double matured expression spent 3 years in bourbon casks followed by 6 months finishing in first fill Oloroso casks. It's a robust sip, sitting at a cask strength of 62.6% ABV. The nose is quite earthy to start, yielding licorice, cloves, anise, and a packet of dried herbs. With time, sweeter aromas come forth: peach rings, blueberry-maple syrup, vanilla extract, and blueberry-lemon scone.
