Old Perth is one of those brands that tends to fly under the radar of the casual drinker, which is a shame, because Morrison Scotch Whisky Company have been quietly assembling some genuinely impressive blended malts under this label. The Cask Strength expression — matured entirely in sherry casks and bottled at a punchy 58.6% ABV — is the kind of whisky that makes you wonder why people still pay premiums for fancy single malts when blended malts can deliver this much character at under fifty quid.
Let me be clear about what we're dealing with here. Old Perth Cask Strength is a no-age-statement blended malt Scotch, which means it's a vatting of single malts from multiple distilleries, all of which have spent time in sherry casks. The NAS designation shouldn't put you off. At this price point and this strength, the focus is squarely on flavour delivery rather than a number on the box, and the sherry influence is the star of the show.
At 58.6%, this is not a whisky that's been watered down to hit a marketing-friendly number. You're getting the spirit much closer to how it sat in the cask, and with sherry-matured malt, that matters. Sherry cask influence at full strength tends to give you a denser, richer texture — think dried fruit concentration, baking spice weight, and that particular kind of sweetness that comes from European oak and oloroso or PX seasoning. The blended malt format also gives the blender room to balance different distillery characters against each other, which at its best produces something more layered than any single component could manage alone.
Tasting Notes
I'll hold off on detailed tasting breakdowns for now — this is a whisky I want to revisit properly in a more structured session. What I will say is that the sherry cask character is unmistakable and unapologetic. If you're the sort of drinker who gravitates toward sherried Speysiders or rich Highland malts, this sits firmly in your wheelhouse. The cask strength bottling means the flavours haven't been diluted into politeness.
The Verdict
At £47.50, Old Perth Cask Strength represents genuinely good value in the current market. Consider what you'd pay for a cask strength, sherry-matured single malt from one of the big-name distilleries — you're looking at £65 minimum, more likely £80 or above. The blended malt format lets Morrison source quality spirit and pass the savings on, and I'd argue that for most drinking occasions, you won't miss the single malt designation one bit.
This is a whisky with a clear identity and a clear purpose. It's not trying to be subtle or complex in a cerebral way — it's trying to deliver rich, sherried, full-strength Scotch at a fair price, and it succeeds. The 58.6% ABV gives you control over your own experience: drink it neat if you like intensity, or add water to open it up and bring it to whatever strength suits you. Either way, you're getting a lot of whisky for the money.
I'm giving it a 7.5 out of 10. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it rolls very well indeed. In a market increasingly cluttered with overpriced NAS releases that deliver less than they promise, Old Perth Cask Strength is refreshingly honest.
Best Served
Pour it neat first, then add water a few drops at a time. At 58.6%, even a small splash will change the character significantly — you'll likely find a sweet spot somewhere around 50% where the sherry richness opens up without losing the weight that makes this bottle worth buying. A solid after-dinner dram, and it holds up well alongside dark chocolate or a decent cheese board.
