Viva la France! From the distillery that has been making spirits and liqueurs since 1900 and that produced the very first ever French Single Malt Whisky comes this magnifique whisky – the Armorik Sherry Cask from Warenghem Distillery. Nothing less than an Oloroso cask aged French single malt whisky from France’s northwesternmost region, Brittany.

The Armorik Sherry Cask is aged in Oloroso sherry casks bringing together the richness of the Breton and Spanish terroirs. Its characterised by notes of spice and candied fruit, enhancing the traditional fruitiness that Armorik is renowned for.

We love ‘new world’ whiskies here at The Single Malt Whisky Club and we were the first to ever offer an Armorik release back in 2015. But is the Armorik Sherry Cask an ‘old world’ or a ‘new world’ whisky? Obviously, we all know France as an ‘old world’ country – but then in all its history (until very recently) one has never associated ‘La Gaul’ with the wonders of single malt whisky. Champagne, yes. Bourdeaux – oui!. Burgundy, Pinot Noir, and (of course) Chardonnay – pourquoi bien sûr!

Nose: An elegant and complex nose featuring all your sherry favourites – sweet fruit, lovely floral notes, buttered toast and a slug of vanilla and spice, all rounded off with a faint choc-orange note.

Palate: Lovely and rich, not particularly oily, but does coat the mouth nicely. Big red fruits (as expected), a creamy flavour (egg-nog?) with slight pepperyness and a hint of leather.

Finish: Mild spice around the back of the mouth and  fruit to boot as well. Yes, vanilla and there’s that Jaffa note again. Yum!