When it comes to whisky maturation, few casks are as sought after as those seasoned with sherry. At Bunnahabhain, we're known as the unpeated, Islay, sherried single malt. Though we also mature our spirit in a variety of cask styles, from bourbon to wine, sherry has become a hallmark of our coastal single malt, enhancing our natural character with layers of richness and depth.
But not all sherries are the same. Some are light and dry, others dark and intensely sweet, and each imparts its own distinctive influence on whisky. Let's explore the main types of sherry casks used in whisky, how they're made, what they taste like, and how they shape Bunnahabhain's most loved drams.
Fino Sherry
How It's Made:
Fino is the driest style of sherry, aged entirely under a layer of flor yeast, which protects it from oxygen. This process preserves freshness and gives Fino its pale colour and light body.
Flavour Profile:
- Green apple, citrus zest, almonds
- Delicate flor yeast notes
- Crisp, bone-dry and refreshing
Impact on Whisky:
Fino casks are rare in whisky, but when used, they bring a lively freshness and subtle nuttiness. They can lighten and sharpen the spirit, while introducing a clean, saline edge that mirrors Bunnahabhain's maritime influence.
Manzanilla Sherry
How It's Made:
Manzanilla is essentially a Fino made exclusively in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where the coastal climate lends distinctive maritime influence. Like Fino, its aged entirely under flor.
Flavour Profile:
- Fresh chamomile and herbs
- Almonds and green apple
- Briny, saline character from seaside maturation
Impact on Whisky:
Manzanilla casks amplify maritime notes, echoing Bunnahabhain's location on Islay's shoreline. They bring freshness and salinity, layering elegance and subtlety into the whisky.
Bunnahabhain to Try:
Fèis Ìle 2023: 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish - A rare release to celebrate Fèis Ìle 2023 where the coastal influence of seaweed and fresh sea air are intwined with rich dried fruits, creamy fudge, waxed red apples and warming spice.
Amontillado Sherry
How It's Made:
Amontillado begins life like Fino, aged under flor, but later loses its yeast layer and matures oxidatively like Oloroso. This dual process creates a complex style that bridges freshness and depth.
Flavour Profile:
- Toasted almonds and hazelnuts
- Leather, tobacco, and herbs
- Dry yet savoury, with layered intensity
Impact on Whisky:
Amontillado casks add nutty, savoury character while retaining a refined dryness. They introduce intrigue, complexity, and balance without overwhelming the spirit.
Bunnahabhain to Try:
Fèis Ìle 2024: 23 Year Old Triple Sherry Wood Finish - Distilled in 1999, the spirit was transferred into a trio of sherry casks: Amontillado casks on the 4th of November 2009, Oloroso casks on the 20th of June 2011 and Manzanilla casks on the 12th of September 2016. A sweet and fruity dram, where notes of honeyed cashews, wood spice and tobacco come from the Amontillado influence.
Oloroso Sherry
How It's Made:
Oloroso is matured oxidatively, without flor, developing rich colour and deep nutty character. While classified as a dry sherry, its robust flavour profile makes it a favourite for whisky maturation.
Flavour Profile:
- Walnuts, almonds, and dried figs
- Leather, spice, and rich oak
- Bold, structured, and warming
Impact on Whisky:
Oloroso casks are iconic in Scotch whisky. They add depth, dried fruit sweetness, and nutty-spiced complexity that perfectly complement Bunnahabhain's full-bodied coastal spirit.
Bunnahabhain to Try:
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength 2025 Edition - Our signature whisky, matured in a balance of Oloroso sherry casks, rich with dried fruit, spice, and sea breeze character.
Palo Cortado
How It's Made:
Palo Cortado is the rarest sherry, beginning life like Fino/Amontillado under flor, but later shifting to oxidative ageing like Oloroso. The result is a hybrid, mysterious style cherished for its elegance.
Flavour Profile:
- Roasted nuts and citrus peel
- Warm spice and herbs
- Silky balance of freshness and depth
Impact on Whisky:
Palo Cortado casks bring refined complexity, with a mix of brightness and richness. Their silky texture marries beautifully with Bunnahabhain's naturally oily mouthfeel.
Bunnahabhain To Try:
Fèis Ìle 2025: Turas Math No.2 Palo Cortado Cask Finish - A limited edition showcasing Palo Cortado's rare elegance with notes of orange marmalade, candied lemon zest, cinnamon and clove.
Pedro Ximénez (PX)
How It's Made:
PX grapes are sun-dried before fermentation, concentrating sugars and creating one of the sweetest wines in the world. The result is a dark, syrupy sherry often used to sweeten others.
Flavour Profile:
- Raisins, figs and prunes
- Toffee, molasses, and chocolate
- Intense, velvety sweetness
Impact on Whisky:
PX casks impart indulgent richness, layering whisky with dessert-like flavours of dried fruit, treacle and cocoa. Used sparingly, they bring depth without losing balance. However, Bunnahabhain is a robust oily spirit that stands up to maturation in the sweetest of sherries.
Bunnahabhain to Try:
Bunnahabhain 21 Year Old Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish - With a 21 month long finish in 21 hand-selected PX casks, this limited edition 21 Year Old is a luxurious example of PX's decadent influence, full of figs, raisins, candied cherries and chocolate.
Cream Sherry
How It's Made:
A sweetened style, typically Oloroso blended with Pedro Ximénez, designed to balance richness and sweetness.
Flavour Profile:
- Toffee, raisins and figs
- Smooth, mellow and rounded sweetness
Impact on Whisky:
Cream sherry casks lend approachable sweetness, softening the spirit while adding layers of dried fruit and caramel.
Why Sherry Casks?
Sherry casks are prized in Scotch whisky because they bring complexity, richness, and balance that no other cask type can replicate. For Bunnahabhain, they enhance what is already there - our unpeated, coastal, maritime style - layering sweetness, spice, and savoury depth over our naturally rich spirit.
From dry Fino to syrupy PX, each type of sherry offers something unique, and together they shape some of Bunnahabhain's most memorable whiskies.
Sherry FAQs
1. How many different types of sherry are there?
Traditionally, there are seven main types: Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado, Pedro Ximénez (PX), and Cream Sherry.
2. Which sherry is dry, and which is sweet?
Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Oloroso and Palo Cortado are dry. PX and Cream Sherry are sweet.
3. What does Oloroso taste like?
Oloroso is nutty, bold, and rich, with flavours of walnuts, figs, leather, and spice.
4. Why are sherry casks used for whisky?
They add layers of flavour - dried fruits, nuts, spice, and sweetness - which enhance whisky's complexity, depth, and balance.
5. What is a sweet sherry called?
PX is the sweetest, while Cream Sherry offers a softer, rounded sweetness.
