Magic Cask

Sometimes just one cask in a blend of many can provide the touch of magic that allows the whole arrangement to sing. We first discovered this phenomenon in 2006 when an experimental whisky, finished in an ex-Madeira barrique, led to the limited edition bottling we called Magic Cask. More recently, a lovely old parcel of whisky from the lost distillery of Imperial never seemed to gel with other whiskies in the way we had hoped. It wasn’t until we received samples from another maturation trial, and added some to the whisky from the Imperial Distillery, that we felt once more that touch of magic. In 2016 we had taken one-year-old spirit from a Speyside distillery, ageing in first fill Bourbon barrels, and re-racked it into first fill Oloroso Sherry butts. Tasting these casks in the autumn of 2019, one in particular presented compelling aromas of cocoa powder and Morello cherries, and was rich and delicious on the palate. Though only a small proportion of this Magic Cask Limited Edition hails from Sherry butt no. 2, and while it may be young in years, its influence on the whisky from the Imperial Distillery is considerable. While keeping the older malt’s winning mouthfeel, new flavour notes of marmalade, toffee apple and vanilla panna cotta have appeared. We have produced this compelling malt whisky without recourse to illusion or sleight-of-hand – all we needed was one Magic Cask.

Limited Edition 5400 bottles released worldwide 70cl standard bottles Bottled at 46% ABV Natural Colour Light 5 micron filter, not chill-filtered Bottled March 2020

Malty and spicy with ripe orchard fruit Marmalade, toffee and cocoa powder

Savour this whisky neat, as a digestif, to appreciate its power and depth.