Cotswolds Sherry Cask

Rating: 11/23 Received this sample without knowing what it was, and I'm quite sure it's whiskey, but I'm not even positive about that. Appearance: A pleasant, rich caramel hue. Light amber, not very dark, but not pale like some Scotches from tired casks. Of course, this could just be coloring. Nose: Unusual. It's fruity yet savory. Not precisely sulphuric, but odd. Ah, I am detecting some sulphur now. Smoke and a vegetal scent that resembles a grain mash (maybe an Irish whiskey?) but could honestly be some sort of Armagnac. A floral hint appears at times, followed by dry barrel tannins. This is very strange, unbalanced, and not enjoyable. I do appreciate the fruit and slight barrel tannins, but the longer it sits, the more the sulphur dominates. Whatever this is, it's clearly quite young. Palate: It's quite hot and intense. Whatever the alcohol percentage is, it must be quite high – I'd estimate over 55%. Surprisingly, the palate has much less sulphur and more of the floral and fruit flavors. There's some slightly decaying vegetation in the background. I don't care for that character and feel it clashes, but it's honestly not too bad. There's a pleasant malty sweetness and richness, but also a grain sharp burn and harshness. I'm leaning towards single pot still, but it could be a blend (or an unusual malt like one I sampled from Breukelen). Lemon comes through from the grain, and then light tangerine from the malt. Possibly a bit of light caramel, but the sweetness is mainly from the malt. I'm definitely detecting some sherry influence (though I could be persuaded it's an odd red wine). The mouthfeel is nicely, slightly oily. Perhaps a touch of mustard powder too? Oh, and a little bit of those sweet ribbon candies – the regular and the cinnamon varieties (mostly the regular). This is a significant improvement over the nose. It's still not great, but it's quite drinkable. Finish: Lingering harshness with burning, lemon, and malt. A hint of mustard powder and light char. Peculiar. Not terrible, but definitely too potent. - Conclusion - This reminds me somewhat of The Sexton (9/23). It has more malt, funk, heat, and body. I think the two aren't drastically different, but this is clearly superior. Breukelen's 7-year-old bourbon cask finished American single malt (12/23) has much of the bite that this possesses, but less of the sweet maltiness and funk. This is sweeter and more approachable – and I'm detecting more vanilla and barrel influence now. I want to rate this higher for being more interesting and complex, but it definitely has multiple significant flaws. I would choose the Breukelen over this. Overall, this is a 10 or 11, and I'm leaning towards an 11. This just seems closer to the Breukelen than to The Sexton. Thank you to the person who provided the sample!

Having a second dram this evening. This one is from the relatively new distillery, Cotswolds. We're starting with a cask strength sherry cask bottling. It's made with barley from the South West of England and aged in American and Spanish oak casks that previously held Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry. It's bottled at a solid 57.4% ABV. Nose: Warm and toasty, it's full of stewed fruit and mild spices. You'll find apple, ginger, clove, plums, blackcurrant, and dates. It's undeniably Christmas cake. However, despite sounding like a sherry bomb, it's not. The fruits and spice are present with a delicate and light touch, leaving space for toasted malt and a hint of burnt brown sugar. Is there also a slightly dry, bitter coffee note? I believe so, yes. Palate: Rich, plump, nicely oily, with a definite prickle from the high ABV. Black pepper spice is dominant, but beneath it lies nutty dark chocolate, thick blackberry jam, and crunchy brown sugar. Finish: Medium-long. The black pepper from the palate intensifies into a lingering spicy tingle, accompanied by juicy dark berries and fig jam. The high alcohol content somewhat conceals the whisky's youth. It's a bit too assertive, and the promise hinted at by the nose doesn't quite come through. Adding water is the solution. With a good splash, the palate reveals a gentler side. Vanilla, perhaps a honeyed note, and definitely some fresh orange zest emerge as the intense black pepper recedes. As the ABV drops, the youth becomes apparent; the depth of character is lacking, and the texture becomes slightly grainy, almost 'fractured'. If tempered with time and a bit more calm, I think this could develop into a lovely, somewhat reserved sherry cask whisky, but it's not quite there yet. Cotswolds scores: Single malt: 4/5 Sherry cask strength: 3/5

From my Cotswolds collection, here's a sample of their Sherry cask, bottled at 57.4% ABV. The aroma presents a blend of damp grapes, dried mangos, faint sulfur, and moist hay, evolving into cocoa-dusted prunes and fresh pipe tobacco. It then shifts to golden raisins, tart lemon candy, and dried apricots, concluding with subtle baking spices and mildly bitter black tea, accompanied by a moderate ethanol presence. The palate offers a light to medium body, beginning with creamy tropical notes that quickly give way to a moderately bitter and sour spice. This gradually fades into a mix of musty grapes, tinned pineapple, and damp cardboard, followed by cocoa-dusted prunes, espresso grounds, and fresh pipe tobacco. It continues with golden raisins, Honeycrisp apples, and gooseberries, finishing with light baking spices and a mildly bitter black tea, and a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is brief, featuring light tropical fruits, cocoa-dusted prunes, black pepper spice, and a moderately bitter black tea. Well damn, this didn't quite hit the mark for me. The aroma is somewhat off-putting, with the sherry overpowering with sour, musty fruits. Occasionally, those tropical Cotswolds notes manage to peek through before swiftly receding into bitter oak, which carries onto the palate as a moderate bitter spice. Thankfully, it concludes with a short finish, a light fruitiness quickly overwhelmed by sour fruits and bitter spices. It's like that awkward relative who doesn't quite fit in, cracking mildly offensive jokes while burping and passing gas, proclaiming 'Better out than in!' after each emission, and lecturing about how deodorant is unnatural. It's a sour, sulfuric meal that mercifully ends sooner than expected, leaving you grateful that relative lives far away and only visits annually. This is an odd one in the otherwise fantastic Cotswolds range, and I'll steer clear in the future.

A superb sherry-forward dram, bursting with the taste of figs, apples, blackcurrants, rum-soaked raisins, honey, oranges, quince, toffee, chocolate truffles, and raspberries.

While not my preferred release from Cotswold, the quality of their malt spirit still comes through, despite a somewhat uninspiring cask finish.

Quite pleasant.