Sherry cask finishing has become a seriously popular way to add some extra oomph to scotch whisky. You’ve got this incredible mix of dried fruit, spice, and even chocolate notes mingling with the whisky’s original character. It’s a pretty magical process that can really elevate a dram.
So, if you’re curious about sherry-finished whiskies (and you should be!), this article is your guide. Below are my personal favorite sherry cask-finished whiskies from distilleries you know and love to some up-and-comers you might not have discovered yet. Whether you’re into peaty whiskies that get a sweet sherry kick, or you’re all about those bright fruit flavors the casks bring out, we’ve got something to pique your interest. Get ready to explore some seriously tasty drams!
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Glenmorangie 12 Year Old Lasanta
BUY NOW: $50
A classic! Glenmorangie has been under scrutiny these past few years, and I’ll admit I’ve been one of those doing the scrutinizing. Some recent releases have been way below par for them. However, their core range boasts two whiskies that consistently impress: the port cask finished Quinta Ruban and the Oloroso cask finished Lasanta.
I’ve historically been a Quinta Ruban guy, but I got a bottle of Lasanta for Christmas, and it was a huge hit with me and my family over the holidays. Any whisky that can introduce people to the world of whisky is invaluable, and this bottle is definitely worth talking about.
Meikle Tòir 5 Year Old, The Sherry
BUY NOW: $55
Time for some peat! Young whisky has been in the spotlight for all the right reasons these past two years, and almost all of it has been peated. This style packs a punch even at a young age, and no brand has made a bigger splash than Billy Walker’s Meikle Tòir range from The GlenAllachie.
I still haven’t tried The Turbo release, though everyone tells me it’s fantastic. Of the four that have been released, the one that really stood out for me was The Sherry One.
Finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks, with a 60-hour fermentation for extra fruity complexity, this has to be one of the whiskies of the year, period—not just a must-try for sherry finishes.
Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Cask Finish
BUY NOW: $67
A lot of whisky drinkers hear “Laphroaig” and immediately panic, but once you move beyond the standard bottling, things get really interesting.
Bottled at 48% ABV, with two-thirds of the liquid fully matured in sherry casks, this whisky has all the smoky, full-bodied presence you expect from Laphroaig. But beneath that sherry-soaked smoke lies a wealth of flavors, so long and complex you can ponder them for hours. Lord knows I have, over many glasses, and it still impresses me to this day.
Arran ‘The Bodega’ Sherry Cask
BUY NOW: $57
The Lochranza distillery always deserves a mention in any whisky category, as they simply excel at everything they do. However, I feel this particular bottle doesn’t get enough recognition for its sherry influence.
Bottled at 50% ABV or higher with every release, this nine-year-old spirit is finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks for a richer style of Arran single malt. Like the rest of the distillery’s lineup, it’s affordable, relatively easy to find, and a powerhouse of flavor. Arran delivers yet again!
Lagg Corriecravie Edition Sherry Cask Finish
BUY NOW: $78
The first time I tried this, it blew me away. I’ve never had a whisky so young—possibly under four years old—deliver so much aroma and complexity, especially compared to some of its much older and more expensive rivals.
I know I’ve said “never buy whisky based on color” before, but the sherry finish on this is so dark, it looks like it matured in those casks its entire life. This peated malt from the new Lagg Distillery on Arran is so rich and complex, it puts some Islay whiskies to shame.
Younger single malts have rightly been getting a lot of attention since the secondary market shrank, but Lagg, like its older sibling distillery Arran, has always focused on quality, and this whisky has it in spades.
Balblair 15 Year Old Single Malt
BUY NOW: $91
I’m not sure if this technically counts as a “finish,” since the whisky is further matured for three years in ex-sherry casks, but it’s easily one of the best teenage whiskies out there right now.
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Balblair remains an underrated distillery, rarely appearing in independent or major award ceremonies. They have won awards, but they don’t shout about it, which is refreshing from a consumer’s perspective.
Drenched in tropical fruit aromas and delivering those classic sherry notes, the Balblair 15 Year Old is an absolute must-have for anyone wanting a characterful single malt with a lot to say, thanks to its dual cask maturation (twelve years in ex-bourbon followed by three in sherry).
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