How Are They Made?

Sherry

The best sherries offer a subtle range of colours, aromas and flavours. Sherry making is a complicated process which involves long ageing and a blending system called the Solera. This entails topping up barrels of mature sherry with younger wines. The magic ingredient in Sherry is a yeast called 'flor' , which forms a thick 'blanket'.

Amontillado

Amontillado is an aged Fino from which the flor has died away giving a nutty, luxurious flavor. This makes it a natural aperitif, although it also goes well with pork or ham, cured meats, nuts and mature cheeses.

What does it taste like? A full nutty flavour with a medium dry finish.

Manzanilla

Manzanilla is a fine, light, pale sherry that comes from the coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda. The cooler coastal air allows the flor to remain active for longer and thereby gives this sherry its unique dry, crisp and slightly salty character. It is also an ideal aperitif or accompaniment to seafood and shellfish.

This sherry should be consumed within a few days of opening.

What does it taste like? Manzanilla has a dry, crisp, slightly salty character.

Fino

Fino sherry is aged beneath a protective layer of yeast (flor) resulting in a crisp, delicate bone dry taste. This sophisticated sherry is a must as a chilled aperitif but also goes well with all seafood and fish. Fino should be drunk young since it tends to lose its freshness progressively once bottled and should be consumed within a week of opening.

What does it taste like? A crisp, delicate, bone dry taste.

Cream

Cream is a dark, rich, amber coloured sherry which gives way to sweet nutty, raisin and caramel characters. The soft spiciness lends it to game dishes and smoked meats or rough pates, but it is also particularly delicious to drink with desserts such as Christmas puddings and rich fruitcakes.

What does it taste like? Rich with sweet nutty caramel flavours.

Pale Cream

Pale Cream is a fino that has been sweetened by the addition of concentrated must to give more colour and body. It is a medium sweet flavor, which drinks well with cakes, nuts and some cheeses.

What does it taste like? Light and medium sweet with nutty notes.

Meet The Distiller

Whyte & Mackay distiller Richard Paterson gives an insight into his world and offers advice on the best way to taste whisky.

Find out about malt whisky and its producing regions