There is something undeniably exciting about a whisky that arrives at 64.6% ABV with the confidence of a distillery finding its stride. Cardrona Growing Wings Sherry & Bourbon Cask is a cask-strength single malt from New Zealand's still-young whisky scene, and at £69.95, it asks you to take a chance on the new world. I'm pleased to report it's a chance worth taking.
The Growing Wings range is aptly named. This is a whisky still in the process of becoming — a no-age-statement release that makes no apologies for its youth, instead leaning into the raw energy that cask-strength spirit can deliver. The dual-cask maturation in both sherry and bourbon wood is a sensible choice for a young single malt: the bourbon cask lends vanilla sweetness and structure, while the sherry influence brings dried fruit depth and colour. It is a combination that works hard to build complexity where time alone has not yet had its full say.
At 64.6%, this is not a whisky for the faint-hearted. There is real heat here, and it demands your attention from the moment it hits the glass. But that strength also means you are getting the spirit as the distiller intended — uncut, unfiltered, and unapologetically bold. For those of us who enjoy the ritual of adding water drop by drop and watching a whisky open up, this is a genuinely rewarding pour. A few drops transform the experience entirely, and I found myself returning to the glass repeatedly as new layers emerged over twenty minutes.
Tasting Notes
No formal tasting notes are published for this expression. What I can tell you is that the sherry and bourbon cask combination at this strength promises a rich, full-bodied dram with the kind of intensity that rewards patience. Expect dried fruit sweetness battling with oak spice, vanilla, and the malty cereal character typical of young single malt at natural strength. This is a whisky that wears its ABV on its sleeve — in the best possible way.
The Verdict
I have a great deal of respect for distilleries outside Scotland that refuse to play it safe. Cardrona could have diluted this to 40%, smoothed the edges, and sold it as an easy-drinking introduction to New Zealand whisky. Instead, they've bottled it at full cask strength and trusted the drinker to meet them halfway. That takes conviction, and at 7.7 out of 10, this whisky earns its score through sheer character. It is not perfect — NAS cask-strength releases can occasionally feel like they're compensating for youth with power — but here the wood influence is well-judged enough to carry the spirit. At just under seventy pounds, it represents fair value for a cask-strength single malt with genuine personality. If you are curious about what the Southern Hemisphere can do with malted barley, this is a compelling place to start.
Best Served
Neat in a Glencairn with a few drops of water added gradually. At 64.6%, water is not optional — it is essential. Start with two or three drops, let it sit for a minute, then nose again. You will find the whisky far more expressive at around 50-55% than it is straight from the bottle. A classic Highball with quality soda also works surprisingly well here; the sherry and bourbon cask sweetness holds up against dilution and ice, making it an unexpectedly versatile dram for warmer evenings.
