Dartmoor Ex Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky

With sweet sherry, hazelnut, coconut, marzipan, and sultanas all playing out on the palate, followed by hints of gingerbread and treacle. The nose has a distinctive sherry aroma with rich, fruity notes and a long, smooth, and sweet finish. This whisky is matured in Sherry barrel from the Jerez region in Spain where sherry is produced. These casks are some of the most exclusive and expensive the distillery purchases because of the beautifully sweet and rich flavours they impart on whisky. Whereas most sherry expressions are only finished in sherry casks, sitting for most of their maturation in lesser casks, Dartmoor ages Ex-Oloroso Sherry whisky in Oloroso sherry casks from start to finish, allowing the spirit the time it needs to take on its golden colour, inviting sherry aromas and diverse flavour notes.<br> <br> The origins of Dartmoor Whisky Distillery can be traced back to Islay in the Hebrides several years ago, where a group of whisky enthusiasts had travelled to make whisky. On their return, they began to question why there weren’t any whisky distilleries in Devon. The county’s climate and soil are perfect for growing great quality barley, the granite geology of Dartmoor is a wonderful filter for clear spring water, and the exceptional air quality with sea breezes provide great storage during maturation. With outstanding local producers like Warminster Maltings, one of the oldest established traditional barley malting houses in the country, and more cask beer brewers than any other county in England, all the components to make a very fine single malt whisky are here in Devon. After working at Bruichladdich Distillery on the island of Islay back in 2009, the founder Greg Millar dreamt up this project. With the help of Simon Crow, this dream became a reality and Dartmoor Whisky was born.<br> Dartmoor Whisky is truly a product of the Southwest, made using local ingredients wherever possible. The barley is malted at Warminster Maltings in Somerset. Warminster are Britain’s oldest working maltings and malt barley using the traditional techniques of germination floors and good old-fashioned manpower, turning the barley with a malt shovel daily. The beer wash is brewed by local cask ale producers to Dartmoor recipe, specified by the Master Distiller Frank McHardy. The primary distillation takes the beer wash from around 9% to 25% ABV. After three primary distillations, the ‘low wines’ are returned to the still to produce the finished ‘water of life’ at around 70% ABV. Dartmoor spirit is then transferred into our carefully sourced barrels for the maturation process to begin. Dartmoor Whisky is matured in three types of barrels to create the distillery’s three core expressions: American oak Bourbon barrels, French oak wine barrels and Spanish sherry barrels.