Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish 15 yo Whisky header
The year 2016 started with a BANG. I started my tasting year with a distinctive South African whisky. It was the Three Ships PX Cask, the first in their Three Ships whisky Masters Collection. This year, I am fortunate to start on an even bigger BANG. First up is another Three Ships Masters Collection release, the Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish whisky.

A 15 year old blend from the beautiful Wellington in the Western Cape. What makes it so very special is the ageing in the Pinotage Casks.

The 15 yo Pinotage Cask Finish is the oldest whisky crafted by Master Distiller Andy Watts. He sought to capture the unique heritage of South Africa in this vibrant, sophisticated and unique whisky.

Andy has been experimenting with ageing whiskies is a variety of casks. During October 2016, at a glittering event, the next unique ‘experiments’ was released. A whisky finished in casks previously used for the maturation of Pinotage – the uniquely South African wine cultivar.




What is Pinotage?

Pinotage is a grape variety that originated in South Africa in 1925 when Abraham Perold combined the best qualities of the robust Hermitage grape with Pinot Noir. This grape makes great wine but it can be challenging to grow. The result was a grape with high sugar levels and more intense ruby colour than the parents.

Recognition for this new grape variety came at the end of the 50s at as a Pinotage was the champion wine at the Cape Wine Show. But by the 70s, it seemed that the Pinotage lost favour and many producers uprooted large areas of well-established Pinotage vines.

A few producers, however, saw the potential of this grape and continued to look for ways to improve the quality of the grape. Their hard work and dedication paid off at the end of the 80s when a Kanonkop Pinotage won a major prize. Pinotage was back on the wine stage. And with all the exciting bottlings that have been coming out, a variety destined to stay on the stage for a long time.

Pinotage is known for red berry, plum, tropical fruit, banana, smoke, earthy and chocolate flavours. Pinotage wine pairs well with roast turkey, salami, dried meat, Spanish or Italian food, aged gouda and cheddar.

Also Read: Private Barrel Co James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo whisky

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky Review

Review and Tasting notes Three Ships Pinotage Cask finish 15 yo whisky with glass
The grain and malt portions were first matured separately in American casks before being finished for different periods in eight casks previously used for Pinotage. For this tasting, I was joined on Twitter by talented photographer Nymless.

REGION: World Whisky, South Africa

ABV: 46.2%

COLOUR: Golden blush pink

NOSE: Berries, sweet caramel, fresh fruits, vanilla, oak, butterscotch, strawberry jam and grapes. The nose is rich and complex.

PALATE: Without water, the palate has pepper, toffee, creme brûlee and hints of toasted oak. Water releases complexity and richness. The fruity nose becomes defined fruits.

Apples, bananas and berries mixed with a cereal maltiness. Honey sweetness balanced with cinnamon and vanilla.  Little hints of pepper for bite. Floral sweetness. The Three Ships Pinotage Cask has a HUGE personality.

FINISH: Long and lingering with sweet, fruity notes, cinnamon. Leaves you wanting more!

RATING: DIVINE  

It was unanimous. All 3 people across the country gave it the same score.

Wonderfully delicious! A true piece of South African history. I love the Three Ships brand, team and whisky.

Because I know the people that make this whisky, I run the risk of making an emotional rating. I want to keep my ratings as objective and as sensible as possible. Without me  knowing it, a few weeks before this tasting, I made the same call on a blind tasting of the Pinotage Cask.

We were playing Monopoly with our 5-year-old daughter. It was a rainy afternoon, and I asked John to pour me something aged in sherry. He came back with a glass and handed it to me. I tasted and realised it was not a sherry cask.

But I was unsure what whisky he poured me. John knew that we were tasting the Pinotage Cask a week later, so I was not expecting him to open that. He asked what I thought of the whisky and it inadvertently became a blind tasting. I immediately rated it, Divine. So no, the Divine rating is not exaggerated  or an emotional rating. It is an exceptional whisky. A HUGE whisky to start 2017 with,

Three Ships Pinotage Cask Finish Whisky and Food

If you like drinking pinotage, this is a whisky that you will enjoy. It has the same fruity, earthy notes of a great pinotage, but with the rich malty cereal whisky notes.

I preferred the Pinotage Cask Finish with a few drops of water to release more of the fruity tones. It will pair well with foods such as cured meats, a great cheddar and a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese.

During 2021 the James Sedgwick distillery released a grain whisky finished in a red wine cask, the Bain’s Shiraz Cask Finish  whisky.

Also Read: Three Ships 6 yo That Boutique-y Whisky Company