Whisky Forum - Where does the off sulphur note come from?

Innes

Hi all, this maybe a bit of a stupid newbie question - I have a bit of a preference for sherried malt whisky and i wondered where does the off sulphur note sometimes found in sherried whisky come from? Does it come from the sherry, the wooden barrel or from the whisky itself and how do you avoid it?

Innes

McKay · Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 6:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Innes, not a stupid question at all.

My understanding is that sulphur was often used to sterilise the sherry casks which the whisky is matured in, but sometimes these casks were not always properly cleaned out so we got sulphur tainted casks which gave us sulphur tainted whisky. I have been told this sulhur sterilisation no longer takes place so there should be no more problem, whether that is true i dont know.

McKay

Blackadder · Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 9:05 pm Post subject:

What i have been told is that sulphur notes can result from the use of sulphur candles to sterilise the inside of sherry casks prior to them being filled with whisky. Mckay, interesting that you say sulhur sterilisation no longer takes place, hadnt heard that before.

Carson · Master Of Malts Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 468

Some sulphites occur naturally, sodium dioxide for example occurs in grape skins and hence in fairly large amounts in red wine. I have always wondered if there is a connection with this and the sulphur which can sometimes be detected in sherried whisky.

Carson

Big Mac · Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 12:10 am Post subject:

I have always believed the sulphur note comes from the wood one way or another, whether it is to related to the way the cask has been sterilised or to do with the sherry that was previously in the cask i dont think we can ever be sure.

Innes as far as how we avoid it, all i can say is try read reviews on what you intend to buy, especially if it is an expensive purchase.

Mac

Innes · Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks all for the great replys. The reason i asked was i opened a bottle of Aberlour a'bunadh which i love and was quite disappointed that it had what i would describe as an off sulphury, cabbage, stagnant water note. Not enough to kill my enjoyment of the whisky but enough to disappoint me as i cant get enough of this whisky.

Innes

sorren · Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject:

Hi innes,
Which abunadh did u have ? i hope it is not batch no29....

Innes · Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject:

Andy M · Master Of Malts Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 1212

I had a bottle of Batch 23 which i thought was very good indeed but never tried No. 22

Mark · Master Of Malts Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 1664