Laphroaig 10 Year Sherry Oak
While Laphroaig had long experimented with different cask finishes in special releases like the Cairdeas line, less had been done with the standard expressions beyond an occasional cask strength release also under the Cairdeas aegis. The Laphroaig 10 Year Sherry Oak debuted in March 2021 as a limited release but soon transitioned into a part of the core range. Starting life along the same path as the distillery’s iconic Laphroaig 10, this whisky is then finished for 12 to 18 months in European oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks, marrying the new with the familiar.
Talisker 10 Year
Talisker was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill and was for many years the only distillery on Skye. Sourcing water from Cnoc nan Speireag (Hawk Hill) in Carbost and its grain from Muir of Ord, the distillery was rebuilt in 1880 and again in 1960 after a fire. Talisker’s malt is peated to a medium level and the water used runs over peat, providing potential added complexity. The Talisker 10 Year is the cornerstone of the core offerings and is aged in ex-bourbon American oak casks.
Old Pulteney 18 Year
Old Pulteney was founded in 1826 and named after the same Sir William Pulteney that the nearby Pulteneytown was. The core lineup has both No Age Statement offerings along with a few aged whiskies, and the Old Pulteney 18 is the oldest of the current portfolio. Double matured in both second-fill American ex-bourbon and first-fill Spanish ex-Oloroso sherry casks.