Three Ships 10yo – single cask PX finish

Three Ships Whisky is the pioneer of the South African whisky industry.

Distilled in 2005 at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, the whisky was initially matured for eight years and ten months in American oak before spending a further 14 months in a cask seasoned with Pedro Ximénez sherry.

The whisky forms part of the Three Ships Masters Collection which will see a limited edition being launched, each year, over the next years under the Three Ships brand.

Three Ships 10 yo ‘single cask PX finish’ (46,2%, OB 2015, 800 btl.)

Nose: a pleasantly dusty start, some oily notes and a hint of charcoal and Mesquite smoke. Then hints of dates and chocolate, heather honey and spices (clove, rose pepper). Some winey notes and very subtle floral overtones after a while.

Mouth: nice and thick, with sweet fruitcake, raisins and hints of red berry jam. Gentle peaty notes. Get slightly sharper towards the end (active oak). Still some herbal honey and peppery notes.

Finish: a few remaining plankish notes but otherwise nice and sweet, with just a hint of smoke.

This single cask PX finish has much more character than the regular 10yo in my opinion. On top of that it’s still very affordable compared to the standard 10 year-old. Around € 50. Available from Whisky Brother among others.

Score: 83/100