This month, we are excited to share a beautifully sophisticated and complex whisky that has already become a firm favourite amongst our team here in Kempton. This release has also had many in our team asking the same question, "What is Palo Cortado"?

In short, it is a type of Sherry that sits somewhere between an Amontillado and an Oloroso.

The longer answer is somewhat more complicated. Originally Palo Cortado was produced from casks that were intended to be either Fino or Amontillado sherries, however, the failure of the flor (a layer of yeast that forms across the top of the wine and stops oxidization) during maturation would result in the need to further fortify the wine and mature it oxidatively, more like an Oloroso, thus producing a wine with an aroma of a Amontillado and the palate of an Oloroso.

As for the name, the term Palo (stick) is used on the cask to denote a Fino wine, and Cortado (cut) is the mark the winemaker would make through the Palo on the cask when the flor failed, and they fortified the wine further.

We can't wait to share this special Whisky Club release with you all.