The Casual Dram: 26 - Sunday 6 December, 2.30 pm, Mean Doses Taproom (doors open 2pm)

Level 1, 66 Tory St (above Apache), Te Aro, Wellington | $60

………..

It’s time for another casual dram! This time we’ll be looking at the subtleties of oak, and previous cask contents through the lens of two distilleries.

Clynelish and Royal Brackla both employ long ferments and plenty of copper contact, and their resulting house styles are similarly fruity and ester-forward, providing a good base on which to build subtle cask influence. Two whiskies from Clynelish will both be US oak matured, but one is ex-sherry and the other bourbon. With the Royal Bracklas, we have a rare sherry cask that is disclosed as American oak - and then another that is bourbon cask matured, followed by a finish in European oak sherry casks. How will these subtle differences play out in the mouth - and will the famous Clynelish waxy note be enough to help you figure out whether the mystery whisky is indeed a Clynelish of a Royal Brackla? There is only one way to find out…

• Candlekitty (Clynelish) 15 Year Old 2010-2025 Decadent Drams by Decadent Drinks 55% - Refill barrel

• Clynelish 'Old Malt Cask' 16 years old 50% - Refill sherry hogshead

• Royal Brackla 'Signatory Symington's Choice' 2008 / 16 years old #9 57.9% - 1st fill sherry butt - American oak

• SMWS 55.82 'The storm before the calm' 15 years 55% Royal Brackla - Ex-bourbon cask then Spanish oak hogshead

• Mystery whisky

………..

I hope you can join me for another tilt at some tip top drams!