Made from European oak sourced from the forests of Galicia in northwest Spain, the wood is air-dried for two years, this allows the oak to maintain its structure while enhancing its ability to impart flavours during maturation.
The oak is then heavily toasted, a process that unlocks the wood's sugars and compounds, after toasting, the cask is soaked in organic Oloroso or PX sherry for a minimum of three years.
The combination of air-dried oak, heavy toasting, and prolonged sherry exposure creates a unique cask designed to foster the slow, transformative maturation required for exceptional whisky, allowing it to develop layers of rich flavour and complexity over many years.
The Location
Sanlúcar de Barrameda, located on the southwestern coast of Spain near the Guadalquivir River, benefits from salty sea air, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures. These coastal conditions enhance the wood with maritime characteristics like brine, salinity, and some even claim seaweed notes.
These warehouses are the same distance from the sea as Ardgowan’s own warehouses on the Firth of Clyde, ensuring a similar coastal influence on the maturation process.
