Cask Notes: Issue 4
Welcome to the fourth issue of Cask Notes, I'm very glad you are here!
This issue of Cask Notes features:
- Why Blended Scotch Deserves More Respect
- Whisky Facts: The “Angel’s Share”
- English Whisky Granted Geographical Indication
- Tasting notes: Glen Moray Elgin Classic
Every bottle carries a story, from the people who craft it, to the flavors shaped over time.
— Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender/Distiller, Dewars
Why Blended Scotch Deserves More Respect
There's a common idea that blends are the “starter” category, something serious drinkers graduate out of once they're ready for single malt. I push back on that because it's wrong and understanding why it is wrong is important.
Here's what a blend actually is: single malt whisky from potentially dozens of distilleries, combined with lighter grain whisky, assembled to hit a specific, consistent flavor profile. And that profile has to be recreated reliably, batch after batch, year after year, at a scale of millions of bottles.
That's the hard part.
A single malt distillery expresses one house style, shaped by one set of stills, one location, one cask program.
A master blender is solving a much tougher problem: taking dozens of variable, ever-changing components (no cask ages identically, no batch matches the last) and assembling them into something that tastes the same as it did last year.
A master blender's job includes:
- Maintaining a mental and literal library of hundreds or thousands of cask samples, tracking how each is developing
- Solving a complex puzzle every time they assemble a batch, since last year's exact combination of casks is never available again
- Building the palate and judgment to do this reliably, which typically takes years or decades before they're trusted to maintain a blend on their own
Compare that to single malt production, where distillery character stays relatively fixed year after year. Blending is, in a real sense, the harder ongoing craft problem.
Whisky Facts
In Scotland’s climate, about 2% of maturing whisky evaporates from the barrel each year. This is known as the “Angel’s Share.”
In warmer whisky producing countries, such as India, the angel’s share can be up to 10-12% each year. This faster evaporation also means that an Indian whisky may only need to age 4-6 years, compared to 10-15 years for scotch.
English Whisky Granted Geographical Indication
English Whisky has recently been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status by Defra, making “English Whisky” and “English Whiskey” legally protected names, with registration taking effect October 1.
Under the approved specification, English Whisky must be made from UK cereal grain and English water; distilled in England from wort created in England, at less than 94.8% ABV; matured in England for a minimum of three years in wooden casks of no more than 700 litres; and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. Plain caramel is the only permitted additive.
Before this, there was nothing stopping someone from importing subpar whisky and slapping “English whisky” on the label — a gap that took the English Whisky Guild more than six years of work to close.
Dan Szor, founder of Cotswolds Distillery, is also chair of the English Whisky Guild. He has been closely involved in getting this GI over the line since the application was first submitted back in 2022.
“I am immensely proud to see our category formally recognized with its own Geographical Indication,” said Dan. “It gives English whisky a clear and protected identity, celebrates the quality and provenance behind what we produce, and sends a powerful signal to consumers and markets around the world.”
Tasting Notes
If there’s a Scotch that reflects the classic Speyside style and taste, it’s this one:
Glen Moray Elgin Classic — 40% ABV
Nose: Aromas of fresh citrus fruits, rich butterscotch, and warm, freshly baked shortbread, underscored by hints of dried grass and floral malt.
Palate: Smooth and sweet, leading with malty toffee, blackcurrant, and a fragrant edge of lemongrass citrus.
Finish: Warm and comforting, fading out with caramelized citrus and a touch of subtle spice.
Overall: Approachable and easy drinking, matured entirely in American oak casks, the Glen Moray Elgin Classic is the perfect entrée to discovering Speyside malts.
Pro tip: At 40% ABV, little to no drops of water needed. Great with a cube or neat.
Cheers! Dan