Cask Islay 10 Year Old Sherry Edition
A. D. Rattray are delighted to unveil our latest release: Cask Islay 10 Year Old – Special Edition. Building on the success of the first Cask Islay Sherry Edition released in 2019, this new expression brings together an age statement, greater maturity and an intensified sherry influence, creating a richly layered Islay single malt.
Bottled at a cask strength 57.3% ABV, this small-batch release is non-chill filtered and presented in its natural colour, allowing the whisky's full character to shine through. The result is a powerful yet elegant dram delivering notes of coastal smoke, orange and raisin praline, with the signature maritime character of Islay wrapped in luxurious sherry richness.
Tasting Notes:
- Colour: Deep Amber.
- Nose: Blood orange, blackberry and rich coastal smoke.
- Palate: Dark cherry, tangy marmalade and caramelised nut praline.
- Finish: Long and warming, with spiced bramble jam over gentle ash.
The whisky has been crafted from a carefully selected combination of casks. Five first-fill Oloroso sherry butts - the spirit was initially matured in rejuvenated refill (dechar/rechar) sherry butts for nine and a half years before being finished for a further 18 months in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts.
Complementing these are thirteen first-fill Oloroso sherry barriques, fully matured in Oloroso-seasoned ex-wine casks sourced from the renowned Bodegas Hidalgo - La Gitana in Jerez.
These exceptional barriques hold particular significance for A. D. Rattray. Selected in person during a visit to Jerez in 2010, the casks were seasoned with Oloroso Faraon for approximately two years at Hidalgo's historic El Cuadrado vineyard. The vineyard, owned by the Hidalgo family for more than 150 years, is situated in Balbaina Alta, one of the most prized locations in the Sherry region. Its elevated position contributes a distinctive saline elegance and finesse to the wines - and, ultimately, to the casks that have helped shape this whisky.
The new Cask Islay 10 Year Old – Special Edition showcases A. D. Rattray's long-standing commitment to exceptional cask selection and maturation. Marrying the bold peat smoke of Islay with the depth and complexity of premium Oloroso sherry casks, it is a fitting successor to the original Sherry Edition and a compelling new chapter in the Cask Islay story.