Aichinger Selected Cask Review

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Austria
Type: Blended whisky (blend of different casks within the same distillery)
Distillation and Maturation: Matured in European oak casks, with a half-year finish in Burgundy wine casks. The whisky is non-chill filtered and non-colored, indicating a natural presentation.
Age Statement: No specific age statement, but inferred to be at least more than six years old based on color and maturation details.
Color and Bottle Design: The whisky has a slight red touch to its color, indicating the influence of the wine cask finish. The bottle design is noted to be very nice, with a specific mention of "51" which could relate to the alcohol volume or a design element.

Primary Flavors: Fruity and grapey, with a significant influence from the Burgundy wine cask finish. Additional notes of caramel, candy, and a hint of peppermint.
Balance of Flavors: The whisky presents a complex balance between the wine cask's fruity and grapey flavors and the traditional whisky flavors of caramel and malt.
Unique Characteristics: The blend of wheat and malted barley, along with the unique maturation process, gives this whisky a distinctive flavor profile that stands out from more traditional single malt or single grain whiskies.

The Aichinger Selected Cask is a limited bottling from the Austrian distillery Eichinger, emphasizing its exclusivity and the careful selection of casks for this blend.
The use of the distillery's own Burgundy wine casks for finishing the whisky ties the spirit closely to the distillery's broader production and heritage, offering a taste of Eichinger's wine alongside the whisky.

The whisky's production in Austria, with a continental climate and specific maturation conditions (dunnage warehouses, high moisture content, low temperature variation), contributes to its unique profile. This continental style places it somewhere between American and Scottish whiskies, offering a distinct European whisky experience.

"Definitely a fruity, grapey flavor" - highlighting the wine cask influence.
"Considering it has 51%, it's very mild" - noting the surprisingly mild nature of the whisky despite its high alcohol content.
"Somewhere between America and Scotland" - describing its unique position in the whisky world due to its flavor profile and maturation process.

The Aichinger Selected Cask is a limited, blended whisky from Austria, matured in European oak and finished in Burgundy wine casks.
It features a complex flavor profile with notes of fruit, grape, caramel, and a hint of peppermint.
The whisky is tied to the distillery's heritage through the use of its own wine casks for finishing.
Its unique maturation process and blend of grains offer a distinctive taste experience, positioned between American and Scottish styles.
The whisky is appreciated for its mildness despite a high alcohol content and its rich, fruity, and dry finish.

Wine Enthusiasts: Individuals who enjoy wine, particularly Burgundy, may find the wine cask finish appealing.
Whisky Collectors: The limited bottling and unique Austrian origin make it a collectible item.
Adventurous Drinkers: Those looking to explore whiskies beyond the traditional Scotch or American offerings will appreciate its unique profile.
Fans of Mild Whiskies: Despite its high alcohol content, its mildness makes it accessible to those who prefer smoother spirits.