Cask-Strength Spotlight: Best Dram's Four Single Malts and Hercynian Emperor's Way

Best Dram Delivers Four Cask Strength Single Malts, Plus Hercynian Distilling’s Emperor’s Way Frederick II

Kirsch Import introduces a compelling lineup of whisky novelties, showcasing four new bottlings from Best Dram alongside the latest Emperor’s Way release from Hercynian Distilling Co. These spirits emphasize cask strength, uncolored, and non-chill-filtered expressions, promising rich and authentic experiences for collectors and enthusiasts. The release highlights the diversity of cask influence and regional character, with whiskies ranging from Lowland smokiness to Speyside fruitiness, and concluding with a German peated single malt.

Maturation & Flavor Profile

Best Dram’s new releases include the Finglassie 6 Years Old 2019 Best Dram Cask Nr.79 & 80 , a six-year-old Lowland single malt from the InchDairnie Distillery. It matured in first-fill Rioja wine barriques, displaying a unique smoky bacon character intertwined with vibrant red wine notes.

The Ruadh Maor 11 Years Old 2014 Best Dram Cask Nr.69 is an 11-year-old Highland peated single malt aged in a first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead. It balances ashy peat smoke with nutty sweetness, capturing one of the few remaining peated casks from the Glenturret Distillery.

Fans of maritime peat will appreciate the Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2013 Best Dram Cask Nr.309443 , which matured for 12 years in a Moscatel sherry hogshead. This Islay whisky blends full peat character with forest honey and herbal notes.

Lastly, the Linkwood 17 Years Old 2008 Best Dram Cask Nr.306489 spent 17 years in rare Château Margaux red wine barriques, evolving into a juicy, sweet fruit basket of grapes, peach, and apple with a dry finish emblematic of Speyside finesse.

The Hercynian Distilling Co. 2016 Holy Roman Emperor from Hercynian Distilling Co. continues the Emperor’s Way series tradition. It is a German peated single malt, made from local barley with Lower Saxon peat at 35 ppm. The whisky matured in Amarone hogsheads and finished in Marsala casks, presenting complex fruit notes like cherries, plums, and orange zest alongside peat smoke, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and soft coffee nuances.

All releases are bottled at cask strength, presented in 700 ml bottles, non-colored and non-chill filtered. The Best Dram expressions have limited bottlings ranging from 264 bottles of the Caol Ila 2013/2026 to 595 bottles of the Finglassie 2019/2026. The Hercynian Distilling Co.’s Emperor’s Way Frederick II is limited to 1,220 bottles, commemorating the imperial coronation in 1220.

These exceptional whiskies, including Finglassie 6 Years Old 2019 Best Dram Cask Nr.79 & 80 , Ruadh Maor 11 Years Old 2014 Best Dram Cask Nr.69 , Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2013 Best Dram Cask Nr.309443 , Linkwood 17 Years Old 2008 Best Dram Cask Nr.306489 , and Hercynian Distilling Co. 2016 Holy Roman Emperor , are available through Spiritory. This selection offers collectors a rare opportunity to explore distinct regional styles and exceptional maturation finishes in single malt whisky.