Old Perth is one of those brands that keeps quietly turning out interesting bottles while half the whisky world chases the next hyped single cask release. This Manzanilla Cask Matured expression is a blended malt — meaning no grain whisky here, just a marriage of single malts — finished in casks that previously held manzanilla sherry. That's a specific choice worth paying attention to. Manzanilla is the lightest, most saline style of sherry, produced exclusively in Sanlúcar de Barrameda where the sea air shapes the flor yeast. It's a very different beast from the oloroso and PX casks that dominate sherry-matured Scotch, and it signals that whoever is blending at Old Perth is thinking carefully about what they want in the glass.
At 53.4% ABV and non-chill filtered, this is bottled with confidence. No artificial colouring, no dilution down to a safe 40%. That's the kind of decision I respect — let the whisky speak for itself. The blended malt category has been gaining serious ground in recent years, and expressions like this are exactly why. You get the complexity of multiple malt distilleries working together, without the stigma that unfairly dogs blended Scotch. The fact that the component distilleries aren't confirmed is typical for Old Perth, and frankly, it doesn't matter. The proof is in the drinking.
What to Expect
Manzanilla cask maturation is still relatively uncommon in Scotch whisky, and that's part of what makes this bottle interesting. Where oloroso casks tend to deliver rich dried fruit and heavy sweetness, manzanilla brings something lighter and more coastal — think salinity, a certain dryness, maybe some nutty character. Paired with a blended malt base at cask strength, you'd expect a whisky that balances those briny, delicate sherry influences against robust malt character. The high ABV suggests this can handle a drop of water without falling apart, and will likely open up considerably as you experiment.
The Verdict
At £59.75, this sits in a competitive space. You could spend similar money on a decent single malt from a named distillery with an age statement. But what Old Perth offers here is something genuinely different — a blended malt with a specific, well-considered cask influence that you won't find on every shelf. The manzanilla maturation is a genuine point of distinction, not a gimmick. The cask-strength bottling means you're getting more whisky for your money in real terms, and the blended malt format gives the blenders room to create something balanced and layered. I'd score this a 7.5 out of 10. It's a well-made, thoughtfully presented whisky that rewards curiosity. Not every bottle needs to be a revelation — sometimes a solid, interesting dram at a fair price is exactly what you want.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to breathe. Then add a teaspoon of water — at 53.4%, it needs it, and you'll likely find the manzanilla influence becomes more expressive as the ABV drops. This is an after-dinner whisky, the kind of thing you reach for when you want to sit with a glass and actually think about what you're tasting. It would also pair well with salted almonds or manchego — lean into that Spanish sherry connection.
