Three Ships launches South Africa’s ‘first’ single cask finished whisky

Distell-owned Three Ships Whisky is to release 800 bottles of a single cask finished expression, thought to be the first South African whisky of its kind.

Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt Single Cask PX Finish is thought to be the first whisky of its kind from South Africa

Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt Single Cask PX Finish whisky was distilled in 2005 at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington.

It was initially matured for eight years and 10 months in American oak, with a small quantity then selected to spend another 14 months in an ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry cask.

800 bottles of the non-chill filtered, natural colour, 46.2% abv whisky will be available from 27 October.

The expression is the first installment in the new Masters Collection. One limited edition launch is planned for each year, over the “next years”, under the Three Ships brand.

Andy Watts, James Sedgwick master distiller, said: “Local whisky lovers have long been asking me to produce something extra special and while cask finishes have been produced for many years around the globe, it was time for Three Ships to make history for the South African whisky industry.

“Although the challenges presented by different cask finishes have occupied us for a number of years, we didn’t want to release a new whisky just to satisfy the demand. The product had to be right in every aspect and I believe what we have here was certainly worth the wait.

“Pedro Ximenez is a white Spanish wine grape varietal used for the production of a sweet-style sherry. The raisiny richness it imparts to the cask was the perfect finishing touch I wanted to complement the smokiness of our single malt with some sweet, nutty flavours.”

Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt Single Cask PX finish is described as “complex”. Given tasting notes include prunes, dates, figs, fruitcake and an “elegant smokiness”.

The whisky will be available at threeshipswhisky.co.za, Norman Goodfellows, Whisky Brother and vinoteque.co.za retailing at R$850 (about £42/US$73).

Earlier this month Three Ships unveiled a packaging redesign to give “greater prominence” on-shelf.