@Slainte-Mhath That sounds like a good cask. It’s a typical profile for a Starward first-fill sherry cask but also typical of what is available from many other Australian distilleries. The two big problems for our distilleries are getting into overseas markets and scaling up production, but New World Distillers (Starward) solved both via a funding and distribution deal with Diageo a few years ago, which is why they now have so much exposure in Europe and the US. If I had the funds and the inclination to invest in a cask would I buy one from Starward? Maybe, but they would not be at the top of my list.

@Slainte-Mhath that’ll be a lot of bottles. Would you start your own IB ?

@cascode What's your opinion on Starward? I received a generous sample from a friend who bought a whole cask, he said the quality of the spirit blew him way: https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/212037/starward-2016

@PBMichiganWolverine I have the option to either buy a virgin oak cask or a refill cask (American oak, red wine, Port, Sherry etc.) and then fill the cask myself. I could also buy a cask that has already been filled 5 years ago and select a finish. At the tasting, I was most impressed by Glina's 10 yo single cask (4 years ex-Bordeaux, 4 years ex-Cherry wine, 2 years mead finish). I think I'll decide after I reviewed all their samples, but I tend to start with a spicy/dry Bordeaux cask, and then add a sweet finish on top. Costs are around $2000, and I am planning to mature for 10-12 years.

@Slainte-Mhath so to buy a cask, you’d need to probably forecast how that spirit will do in a few years time? And then how many bottles? Would you sell them?

@PBMichiganWolverine You won't find Glina Whisky outside of Germany, it's a local product. I bought a 5 miniature sample set and an interesting distillery-only bottle, I will review all of them early next year. I am actually negotiating with the distillery owner to buy my own cask, as I see a lot of potential. I am considering either a 30 or 50 liter cask, probably an ex-Bordeaux cask with a Port finish.

@Slainte-Mhath I’ve never been to Cook Islands, but we did have our honeymoon, about 18 years ago, in Tahiti—-which I think is close enough relatively to Cook. It’s the most beautiful waters I’ve ever seen. Glina…I don’t think I’ve seen that US or UK. Local only? Looking forward to your review on it

@PBMichiganWolverine I can imagine, we visited the Cook Islands twice, I think Hawaii is equally amazing. This summer we visited family and friends in Germany, and we had a pretty nice tour at Glina distillery: https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/distillery/85230/shop-tour (see the 20 photos I uploaded)

@Slainte-Mhath Hawaii is simply amazing..a must -do once in your life destination. We did Kauai and Big Island. Both are nature powerhouses. Rum distillery was decent…Koloa, made with 100% Hawaiian sugar cane. Where did you go?

@PBMichiganWolverine The Invergordon was more to the wasps liking, candyfloss all over. How was Hawaii and the rum distillery?

@Slainte-Mhath interesting unplanned ad hoc science experiment. I would’ve thought this might attract more wasps bc of the orchard fruit aroma.

@Slainte-Mhath Well played!

Additional comment: Ever got a hornet drowning in your whisky? On my recent vacation, we had a bottle of Compass Box Orchard House and 12 YO Invergordon at cask strength as our travel companions, and the latter seemed to draw wasps like a magnet towards the Glencairn. I left the glasses unattended for half an hour, before I saw that a huge insect had drowned in my wife's glass. Closer inspection revealed that it was a hornet, poor bugger. Hesitant to drink the remainder, we decided to sacrifice spirit and the deceased in our bonfire. Now I knew that 55.6% ABV guaranteed a spectacular blast, but the blue flame engulfing the fire pot was mind-blowing. R.I.P.

Additional information: This review is for batch L 18 01 22, consisting of 39.1% Linkwood, 37% Clynelish, 12.6% Benrinnes and 2.4% Caol Ila.