Our Favorite Scotch Whisky Aged in New Oak Casks

Cù Bòcan single malt is a lightly peated whisky, matured in a combination of sherry, virgin and bourbon casks. For this release however, Tomatin has chosen to mature it fully in virgin oak casks. Only 6,000 bottles of Cù Bòcan Virgin Oak were released in 2015. It is the second in a series highlighting the individual cask styles of Cù Bòcan.

Touched for the very first time, the American oak barrels utilized here were new, not used prior to the Auchentoshan distillate filling the barrel for maturation. First released in the winter of 2013, the whisky has been been bottled at a nice 92 proof to enhance the wood spice aromas. This is a limited release so get it while you can.

This blended Scotch from Bladnoch combines Bladnoch's single malt (minimum 8 years old) with malt whiskies from Islay, Speyside, and the Highlands, along with malt and grain whiskies. The blend is finished in new American oak casks.

Virgin wood is referring to the never been used American white oak barrels utilized to age this single malt. Bourbon is aged this way, but traditionally, Scotch is aged in used bourbon barrels. Bottled at 96 proof, this Highland malt is an example of trying new flavor profiles and techniques in what is sometimes thought of as a staunch and traditional category.

One of the first few releases under Adam Hannett's regime at the Bruichladdich Distillery. The Octomore 7.4, Bruichladdich's super-peated label, clocks in at 167 ppm phenol (which, absurdly enough, now seems tame compared to the 7.1's 208 ppm or the 6.3's 258 ppm). This malt is aged for seven years in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and medium-toasted virgin French Oak from Allier in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. 25% was exclusively matured in French Oak with the remaining 75% spending three years in first-fill bourbon, followed by two years in virgin French Oak, and, finally, another two years in first-fill bourbon casks. Bottled at the casks' strength of 61.2% ABV, as always, this Octomore is non-chill filtered and bottled without coloring.