WOOD FINISH
Common Cask Name: Barrel
Wood: Virgin American oak, Irish oak, Japanese oak, etc.
Volume: Usually 200 - 500 liters, though quarter casks are 80 liters
Comes from: Country of origin
Typical flavors: Spice, vanilla, sweet oak
Get tasting: Midleton Dair Ghaelach, Octomore 7.4, Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask
WINE FINISH
Common Cask Name: Barrel or barrique
Wood: Typically French oak
Volume: Up to 220 liters
Comes from: Local to each wine region, e.g. Bordeaux, France
Typical flavors: Varies according to wine. Sauternes has notes of fresh bread, tart au citron, and crème caramel. Bordeaux gives red berry, cherry, and plum.
Get tasting: Glenmorangie Quarter Century, Glenfiddich Age of Discovery 19 year old Red Wine Cask Finish, Glenmorangie Pride 1981
PORT FINISH
Common Cask Name: Pipe or barrique
Wood: Usually French oak
Volume: Up to 600 liters for a port pipe, up to 220 liters for a port barrique
Comes from: Portugal
Typical flavors: Berry fruits, red currant, sultana
Get tasting: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, Angel's Envy Port Barrel Finish, Laphroaig Brodir, Balvenie PortWood 21 year old.
SHERRY FINISH
Common Cask Name: Butt or puncheon
Types: Pedro Ximénez, oloroso, amontillado, fino, manzanilla, etc.
Wood: European or American oak
Volume: Up to 500 liters
Comes from: Jerez, Spain
Typical flavors: Dates, walnut, sultana
Get tasting: Balvenie DoubleWood, Lagavulin Distillers Edition, Glenmorangie Lasanta
MADEIRA FINISH
Common Cask Name: Drum
Wood: Portuguese oak
Volume: Up to 650 liters
Comes from: Portugal
Typical flavors: Sweet fruits, figs, spice,
Get tasting: Laphroaig Cairdeas 2016, Tyrconnell 10 year old Madeira Cask Finish
RUM FINISH
Common Cask Name: Puncheon
Wood: American oak
Volume:Up to 500 liters
Comes from: Caribbean
Typical flavors: Molasses, vanilla, tropical fruits
Get tasting: Balvenie Caribbean Cask, Teeling Small Batch Rum Cask Finish, Angel's Envy Rum Cask Finish
BEER FINISH
Common Cask Name: Barrel
Wood: American oak
Volume: Up to 200 liters
Comes from: Usually a local brewery
Typical flavors: Sweetness, malt, creamy
Get tasting: Glenfiddich IPA Experiment, Jameson Caskmates, Mackmyra Vinterrök