Oloroso Cask vs Pedro Ximenez Cask

[Lucas80]

Hi,

Same single Malt but different sherry. What's the difference?

[Calder]

Different types of sherry have their own character so different sherry casks will impart a different style of sherry influence on a single malt. Then you have to consider whether the whisky was fully matured in the sherry cask or just finished in the sherry cask. Then you have to consider whether it is a first fill sherry cask (one that has only previously been used to mature sherry) or is it a refill sherry cask which will have been originally used to mature sherry but has since also been used to mature whisky. Obviously first fill sherry casks will impart the biggest sherry influence on a whisky particularly if the whisky is fully matured in the cask.

[Quaich1]

Calder hits the nail on the head regarding sherry influences and cask variations. For example, the Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve is matured primarily in bespoke Oloroso "Matusalem" sherry Butts.

Also to fully understand the sherry barrel variations Lucas one should look at the sherry that was in the barrels. So-

Oloroso
"Complex brown-coloured sherries, Olorosos develop in barrel without the protective flor layer, often for many years. The result is a complex, rich, nutty style of sherry with aromas of old furniture and raisins. These wines are dry. Because they've seen so much oxidation during development, they are pretty stable and stay in good condition for a while once the bottle is opened".

Pedro Xim?nez
"Made from air-dried grapes, with fermentation stopped early by the addition of spirit, Pedro Xim?nez is a remarkable wine. Viscous and amazingly sweet, it tastes like liquid Christmas cake".

Courtesy of http://www.wineanorak.com/sherry.htm



_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Lucas80]

I asked because Glendronach this years bottled these:

http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glendronach/glendronach-19-year-old-1995-cask-3326whisky/?srh=1

http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glendronach/glendronach-21-year-old-1993-cask-39-whisky/?srh=1

and I'm thinking to buy one.

[opelfruit]

If I were you I'd go for the Oloroso.

I've had a 19yo 1993 single cask PX matured GlenDronach a few years back. Full term in PX casks.

The sherry really over powered the spirit. It was a good dram but the sherry took away from the end product and didn't add to it.

I've not had Oloroso matured single casks but I would go for one of those next time myself instead. They also always get good reviews.


Full term aging in PX casks (even refill) is a bad move, it's simply too strong a sherry influence. Finishing in them is fine, but not a full 19years.
_________________
"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[Andy M]

I have had a few full term matured PX and Oloroso matured single cask Glendronachs and I wouldnt say any one has been better than the other simply because of the type of sherry cask used. By there very nature each single cask is different no matter what type of sherry cask was used to mature it. All i have had have been faultless and i wouldnt hesitate to choose either PX or Oloroso again.

Glendronach to date in my experience have been very good at selecting casks to release in their single cask batches but I know they have released a few PX casks that have received poor reviews but i havent been unlucky enough to come across one.

[STUDOGG37]

[Lucas80]

Great!!! I'll go to oloroso.

Thanks to all for your reply.