Cask Islay 10 year old - Special Edition

Profile: The Cask Islay 10 year old - Special Edition at a glance

• Limited Edition: Limited to 6,000 bottles worldwide
• Ten Years of Maturation: Bottled with an official age statement
• Sherry Cask Composition: Matured in selected first-fill sherry casks
• Cask Strength Bottling: Undiluted at a robust 57.3% ABV
• Natural State: Non-chill filtered & no added coloring

Portrait: What makes the Cask Islay 10 year old - Special Edition special

Some whiskies come and go. Others vanish from the shelves so quickly that one wonders if they were ever really there at all. That is exactly what happened with A.D. Rattray’s first Cask Islay Sherry Edition back in 2019. The limited bottling sold out in no time and achieved something of a modern Islay cult status. Over the years, the independent bottler received numerous requests for a re-release - and, as befits a good whisky story, there is finally a sequel.

The crowd-pleasing Cask Islay 10 year old – Special Edition Sherry Matured makes its return. This time, it arrives not only as a limited release of 6,000 bottles but also with an official age statement of ten years. It is essentially the "Director’s Cut" of an already successful classic.

Behind this bottling is A.D. Rattray, a long-established Scottish company with roots dating back to 1868. Originally founded as a wine and spirits merchant, the brand has earned an outstanding reputation as an independent bottler. Their goal: to discover exceptional casks and present whisky in its purest form - free from unnecessary interference and with the utmost respect for its origins and character.

This single malt hails from Islay, the legendary island off Scotland’s west coast. Here, the wind, the sea, and centuries-old distilling traditions shape the world of whisky like nowhere else. For many enthusiasts, Islay is not merely a place of origin but a passion - sometimes even a way of life.

For this special edition, five first-fill sherry butts from 2015 were married with thirteen first-fill Oloroso sherry barriques from 2016. The casks originate from the renowned Spanish bodega Hidalgo - La Gitana, lending this bottling its distinctive character.

The whisky was bottled at a robust 57.3% ABV - natural cask strength - without chill filtration or added coloring.
In short: no make-up, no filters, no compromises. Just whisky, cask, time, and the unmistakable signature of A.D. Rattray.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Cask Islay 10 year old - Special Edition tastes like

• Nose: An expressive bouquet of blood oranges and dark blackberries opens the aroma. Underlying this, a dense, maritime smoke unfolds, lending the whisky depth and a distinctive coastal character.
• Palate: On the palate, juicy dark cherries and a pleasantly tart orange marmalade emerge. The fruity notes are complemented by caramelized nut praline, adding complexity and a harmonious balance.
• Finish: The finish is long and warming. Spicy blackberry jam lingers, accompanied by subtle notes of ash that bring the whisky to an elegant and balanced close.