Hyde Whiskey No.12 Pot Still Cask - 46%

Hyde Whiskey No.12 Pot Still Cask is triple distilled on a traditional copper pot still from a mashbill comprised of malted barley, un-malted barley and Irish oats. Initially matured in alligator flame charred, ex-Bourbon white oak casks for at least five years, before being finished in Oloroso Hogshead Sherry casks from Cadiz.

Tasting notes:

Appearance: Burnished gold in the glass, forms a thin line which beads before slowly falling as thick, oily legs.

Nose: Red apples, dried apricots, malted barley, butterscotch toffee, ginger and a slightly vegetal tomato leaf note.

Palate: Thin arrival becoming progressively creamier, with it comes caramel toffee, barley sugar sweets, golden raisins, vanilla, hazelnuts, cask char, and sharp white pepper. Slightly astringent, woody oak follows.

Finish: As the peppery heat dies down, you’re left with more nutty caramel toffee and more of the charred oak. 

Overall: This is a nice, easy drinking whiskey, not overly complex but it doesn’t suffer as a result. The sherry cask influence is there but well balanced to allow both the spirit and wood to play their part.

Current price is around the £45 mark, which represents decent value for money in my opinion.

If you would like to know more about Hyde and their range of whiskies, please follow the link to the company website.

Transparency: this sample pack was received free of charge for independent review. The author has no affiliation with the bottler, all opinions are my own and remain completely impartial.