Category: Features

Looking to add some whisky books to your shelves? Then maybe we can point you in the right direction. 

Whether you’re trying to expand your knowledge, discover new drams or just want an easy bedtime read, there are a range of fantastic books ready to be explored. 

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular whisky books out there, covering everything from Japanese whisky to taste maps. 

The Way of Whisky – Dave Broom

Though it looks like your typical coffee table book, The Way of Whisky is so much more. This is a stunning exploration of Japanese whisky, that’s part travelogue, part whisky guide. It charts Broom’s journey across the country, taking in visits to distilleries and jotting tasting notes along the way. It’s not all whisky, though, it also gives a great insight into Japanese history and culture, detailing everything from bar culture to pot making. It’s also beautifully produced, accompanied by photos from Kohei Take.

Malt Whisky Companion – Michael Jackson

What would a list of must read whisky books be without the best selling one ever? First written in 1989 by the late great Michael Jackson (not that one), and continually revised since, Malt Whisky Companion is the definitive guide to all things whisky. With advice on buying and collecting, frequently asked questions, and more than 1,000 tasting notes, this is an absolute must have for any whisky lover. The eighth edition, which was updated by Dominic Roskrow and Gavin D. Smith, was released in 2022 and includes new and notable bottlings. 

The World Atlas of Whisky – Dave Broom

Another shout out for the prolific Dave Broom, with this book, The World Atlas of Whisky. While there’s information here on more than 200 distilleries, where this one really stands out is its guide to flavour profiles. With the help of Diageo, Broom has devised six flavour camp charts to help beginners and enthusiasts discover whiskies that match their taste. These are split into different styles such as ‘rich and round’ or ‘malty and dry’ and can help readers discover new favourites or step out of their comfort zone completely. 

Malt Whisky Yearbook – Ingvar Ronde

An annual release, the Malt Whisky Yearbook is a must-have for any whisky professional or hobbyist. First launched in 2006, by Ingvar Ronde, this is a one stop shop for everything that’s going on in the industry. As well as information on distilleries, and of course, tasting notes, it also includes articles from distinguished names. If you want to feel up to date with everything that’s happening in whisky, then this is your go-to.

Raw Spirit – Iain Banks

Perhaps better known for his fiction, Iain Banks takes us on a fascinating journey around Scotland as he searches for the perfect dram. This is not your dry and informative look at scotch; this is a witty and anecdote-filled travelogue that touches on culture, people, and politics – and of course, whisky! Written in 2003 (which will become apparent when you see the meandering monologues on Tony Blair), this is an alternative take on your classic whisky book, but certainly an entertaining one. 

Whiskies Galore – Ian Buxton

Another book that’s as much about the journey as it is the destination. Whiskies Galore sees Ian Buxton explore Island distilleries, taking in Islay, Skye and the Orkneys. What’s great about this book, is that it isn’t just facts and tasting notes, it’s full of asides and opinion. As the author travels up the west coast, we hear his thoughts on everything from Arran to Talisker, but not just on the whisky –  the people, the visitor centres and even a distillery’s standing in the industry all get assessed by Buxton. This is an entertaining read on one of the lesser written about regions of whisky. 

This list is by no means exhaustive, but is a great starting point if you’re looking to learn more about whisky. If you think we’ve missed any out, comment and let us know.  

While whisky production has been taking place for more than 1,000 years, cask finishing has only become part of the process in the last few decades.

From sherry to tequila, red wine to pale ale, distilleries and independent bottlers have experimented with all kinds of finishes to bring a new flavour and intrigue to their releases.

We tell you everything you need to know about cask finishing, including what it is, how it works and which are the most popular finishes.

What does cask finished mean?

Whisky is aged in wooden barrels and the type of barrel used will have a massive influence on the profile of that whisky.

Usually, whisky will spend the entirety of the maturation process in just one barrel, but sometimes it gets moved into another barrel (that previously contained something else) for a second maturation. This is known as cask finishing and is done to impart additional characteristics.

Balvenie was one of the first distilleries to produce a cask-finished whisky when they released the Balvenie Classic in 1983 – which had spent a brief period in sherry butts following the initial maturation. Of course, they weren’t alone in trying to push the boundaries of whisky, and the likes of Glenmorangie and Diaego were similarly experimenting at this time. 

The following 40 years have seen the popularity of cask finishing grow substantially and it is now commonplace in the industry. 

How does cask finishing work?

Whisky must be aged for at least three years in order to legally be called ‘whisky’. However, in an attempt to get a different flavour profile, distillers will often transfer the matured spirit into another cask for a short amount of time – perhaps just weeks or months. 

In fact, there is no minimum or maximum time that a second maturation must last, but most tend to be between six months and two years.

The great thing about barrels is that they take on the flavour of whatever was held in them previously. This is because, when the barrel breathes, the liquid soaks into the wood – meaning that the barrel retains some of the characteristics of the liquid, even when it’s been emptied. 

During this second maturation, the breathing process continues and the liquid that’s been soaked into the barrel starts to impart some of its flavour back into the newly added whisky.  

What are the most common cask finishes?

So we know what cask finishing is and why it’s done, but what are the most popular finishes? Well, the three most common are sherry, bourbon and port, and they all have their own unique qualities. 

Sherry 

Sherry casks are by far the most common barrels used for finishing whisky on the market. While ex-Oloroso barrels are the most popular, fino sherry and Pedro Ximenez casks are also frequently used. Interestingly, almost all of the sherry casks used in the whisky industry have been ‘seasoned’ for that purpose – as opposed to using casks that sherry has actually been matured in (this is because bodegas don’t typically discard of their casks!). Sherry-finished whiskies tend to have warming notes of spice and dark fruits, coupled with a dark red hue and oily mouth finish.

Bourbon

After sherry, bourbon finishes are perhaps the most frequently seen on the shelves. In American law, barrels used to mature bourbon can only be used once, meaning most find a second home in the Scotch whisky industry. It’s thought that bourbon barrels impart around 60% of their flavour, and though similar to whisky in many respects, it’s profile adds elements of vanilla, caramel and subtle spice. 

Port

If you’re looking for a dessert whisky, then look no further than a port-finished dram. With its deep colour and rich character, ex-port casks can transform a standard expression into something much more decadent. Whiskies such as the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruben or Penderyn Portwood have delicious notes of chocolate, dark fruit and honey – perfect for cold winter nights or accompanying a cheese board.

As well as these three popular finishes, you may also see whisky that’s been matured in casks that used to hold:

• Rum
• Red wine
• Manzanilla
• Moscatel
• Tequila
• IPA
• Madeira
• Sauternes

… just to name a few!

What can’t be used?

While Irish and American whiskey has almost complete flexibility as to what can be used in finishing, Scotch producers are a bit more restricted.

Thankfully, this has started to change, as updated regulations now allow for the use of casks that have held almost all types of spirits, wine or beer.

There are, however, exceptions. As a basic rule of thumb, if cask maturation is not used in the production of a particular liquid, then it can’t be utilised by the whisky industry. Gin, for example, isn’t allowed. 

Cider is also a no-no, which is why Glen Moray’s Cider Cask Project expression caused a little bit of a stir.

Interested in trying different cask finishes?

In a centuries-old industry, that’s often restricted by tight regulations, cask finishing has brought innovation, intrigue and some fantastic new whiskies to the market. 

But don’t just take our word for it! Visit our website and explore an extensive range of different finishes.

Ever wondered why you can’t always find the age of your latest whisky purchase printed on the bottle?

What you’ve likely stumbled upon is a no age statement release, and though they’ve been common in the industry for a while, you won’t be alone in wanting to know more about what you’ve just bought!

We take a deep dive into no age statement whiskies, exploring what they are, why we have them and whether they’re actually any good (spoiler alert, they are!).

What does NAS mean?

‘NAS’ is an abbreviation of ‘no-age statement’. This basically means that the distillery hasn’t disclosed the length of maturation.

So, while you might be used to seeing a Bunnahabhain 12 (for example), with the 12 denoting how many years the whisky has been sitting in the cask, NAS whiskies tend to have names related to flavour, heritage or process – such as the Bunnahabhain Toiteach (which means smokey in Scots Gaelic).

All we can ever confidently say is that the youngest liquid in an NAS whisky is three years old, as this is the minimum age required in order to be legally called ‘whisky’.

Why do distillers release NAS whiskies?

Although the concept of NAS whiskies dates back to the prohibition era in the US, the practice has been thrown under the spotlight over the last decade as enthusiasts strive for more transparency – although the reason for their existence is a simple one.

As the demand for older and rarer whisky increased, distilleries had to come up with a way to keep up the supply.

After all, when the stock of your favourite 18 year old runs dry, it’s gone.

This is where NAS whiskies come in, as it enables distillers to fill a gap in the market while existing spirit matures. It also gives them a bit more freedom to experiment with different finishes and flavour profiles, without the constraints that a stated age imposes.

This is because any reference to age that appears on a bottle of whisky can only denote that of the youngest drop. In other words, if you have a predominantly 15 year old malt, but top it up with a punchier 5 year old, then that legally becomes a 5 year old bottle of whisky.

Unfortunately, this younger age statement can make that particular release less appealing to buyers and might not be a fair reflection of the quality of the drink. This is especially pertinent to NAS whiskies, as they are typically a combination of differently aged spirits.

What’s the controversy with NAS whisky?

The main arguments against NAS whisky typically relate to transparency and the belief that older bottles are better.

As NAS releases don’t list an age, it’s understandable that buyers may lack confidence in their purchase. This is fair, but it also ties into a common misconception – that age is always a reflection of quality.

There’s a myth in whisky that older bottles are better and anything younger than 10 years old isn’t worth your time; this definitely isn’t the case. Not all well-aged whiskies may be to your taste, just like not all young whiskies won’t be.

So don’t be put off by the thought that an NAS whisky might contain young spirit; chances are, it also contains some older spirit too – and it definitely doesn’t make for an inferior product!

Is NAS whisky good?

NAS whiskies are certainly worth tasting and there are plenty of fantastic bottles on the market for beginners and experienced drammers alike.

In fact, some of the most popular bottles of the last few years have been devoid of age statements.

Take, for instance, the A’bunadh releases from Aberlour. These heavily sherried, cask strength bottlings, have become a real cult favourite – and while we don’t exactly know the age of the whisky, it’s said to be a mixture of 5 to 25 year old spirit!

Similarly popular NAS whiskies include the Ardbeg Uigeadail, Glenfarclas 105 and anything by Compass Box. To be honest, there are loads of superb bottles out there and we couldn’t possibly list them all!

Conclusion: should you buy NAS whisky?

Absolutely.

Age is just a number and nowhere is this better illustrated than with whisky. Sure, we all have our favourite 12, 15, or 18 year old bottles, but NAS whisky presents a fantastic opportunity to try something different and often at a reasonable price!