Armorik Sherry Finished French single malt starts out exactly like the Armorik Classic Single Malt and gets aged in ex-bourbon casks. Then a few months before bottling the ex-bourbon barrels are dumped into ex-sherry casks for a few months of finishing. This process is popular in Scotland and I’d venture to say that most Scottish distilleries, that put out a single malt, follow this same process to at least some degree.
When it comes to distillation Armorik also follows in the foot prints of the Scottish – utilizing a double distillation process that, for them, takes 2 days. Day one the mash is heated and distilled in their converted Charentais still and then set aside till the next day when it’s put into their spirit still for its second distillation. This process produces a new make that clocks in around 70% ABV (140 proof). After aging the whisky “till it’s ready” it typically exits the barrel at about 60% alcohol which they cut down to 46% before bottling, but I must say, a cask strength Armorik seems like it might be pretty tasty.
Armorik Sherry Finished Info
Region: Brittany, France
Distiller: Warenghem
Mashbill: 100% Malted barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & ex-Sherry matured then finished in sherry for a few months
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: $60*
Armorik Sherry Finished Review
EYE
Fresh cut oak
NOSE
Malty hay, fruity honey and caramel glide atop a layer of sherry sweetness cocoa and crushed smarties. It’s a warm aroma with a nice structure to it.
PALATE
Malt, fruit, vanilla, honey and an ashy bit of sherry sweetness followed by some light notes of cocoa, spice and wood. It tastes very well constructed, they seem to have an excellent master blender.
FINISH
Long malty and fruity with notes of cocoa, malt and wood.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced with a rich round body and a silken heavy texture.
OVERALL
My only complaint about the Armorik Sherry Finished is that I want a little more depth out of it. Maybe it needs a higher proof, maybe its base malt needs a few more years, I don’t know but one thing’s for sure, it has a great body. It’s supple, smooth texture and balanced well crafted aroma and flavor put it in the running to be an incredible whisky, but it feels like something is holding it back. All around a good whisky, but with a little more depth this thing would soar!
SCORE: 86/100
*Disclosure: This sample of Armorik Sherry Finished graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
