It is the start of a new year. I start the new year by opening a new bottle of whisky. A bottle of whisky from one of my favourite distilleries. I have been saving this bottle for a special occasion, and this is a perfect time. The Three Ships Oloroso Cask 8 yo single malt whisky was released during September 2018.
It is the third release in the Three Ships Masters Collection Series. First was the Three Ships 10 yo PX Cask Finish released during 2015. This was followed by the Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish, which was my Whisky of the Year 2017.
And on the 19th of September, Andy Watts released the much-awaited Three Ships 8 yo Oloroso Cask during an online event. The first 151 bottles sold within 15 minutes, that’s 10 bottles a minute, and at the end of the day, only a few bottles remained unsold.
Andy Watts chose this sherry cask from his secret cellar, which holds some exceptional casks. Here in the cool darkness, behind closed doors, he painstakingly nurtured this peated single malt. First, the whisky matured for 5 years in American Oak casks and then for another 3 years in Oloroso sherry casks.
Oloroso means ‘scented’ in Spanish and adds a nutty note to the whisky. The Oloroso Cask finish is the youngest of the Master’s Collection releases. Only 1 440 bottles released. I have bottle 980 of 1 440.
The Three Ships 8 yo Oloroso Cask Finish is not chill-filtered, natural colour with an impressive ABV of 51.8%.
Also Read: Auchentoshan Heartwood whisky
Three Ships Oloroso Cask 8 yo Whisky Review
COUNTRY: South Africa
ABV: 51.7%
COLOUR: Toasted amber
NOSE: Rich and sweet. Notes of oak and fruit come through first. Red fruits, berries and plums, followed by bits of dark chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon.
PALATE: Mellow peat with faint smoky oak balanced by hints of fruit and dark chocolate. The addition of a few drops of water softens the alcohol heat. The water brings forward a pepper spice heat next to the peat and adds a hazelnut note.
FINISH: A strong point. It builds beautifully to a deep lingering, chest filling crescendo. Peaty pepper with hints of dark chocolate
RATING: EXCELLENT
A fantastic range of whisky out of this beautiful distillery in Wellington. Fino Cask finish, PX cask finish, Pinotage cask and now Oloroso cask finish. All of them world-class! The depths that the Wellington distillery is capable of is a true testament to the wonderful skill and mastery of their Master Distiller.
I think the Three Ships 8 yo Oloroso cask with its peppery notes will work very well with a robust, creamy cheese and will be exploring this during the year.
I am not sure how many bottles of this remains in retail. If you spot a last lost bottle in a shop, then grab it. It is something Proudly South African you have to taste.
Also Read: Paul John Oloroso Select Cask Whisky
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