Firkin Whisky Review: Four Drams, Four Distillleries, One Bottler

Never heard of Firkin Whisky? That makes sense. Bottles from Firkin whisky have only recently started appearing on the shelves of Dutch liquor stores. Curious? Dive into this review of not one, but four different Firkin bottlings.

Firkin Whisky is a new independent bottler on the whisky scene. Mike Collins’ company sets itself apart by using custom casks, also known as “firkins.” That explains the name: Firkin Whisky. By building its own casks from American oak and Limousin oak and pairing each whisky with a “soulmate” fortified wine, this indie bottler stands out from the crowd.

The samples arrive in a black box with the Firkin logo on the front: instantly chic. The 70 cl bottles look just as premium. Gold accents dress the label, which neatly lays out everything you need to know about what’s inside.

There are four different series so far, with the portfolio still growing. Firkin 49 is the first sample we tried, a Tullibardine matured in both Oloroso and Amontillado sherry casks. The number 49 nods to the year 1949: the founding year of Tullibardine distillery and the birth year of Firkin founder Mike Collins.

When you pour it, the light color stands out for a whisky matured in sherry casks. Bring your nose gently to the glass and the first impression can seem a touch musty. Give it a moment and the aromas resolve into freshly roasted hazelnuts or almonds, alongside vanilla fudge and honey. The first sip explodes with flavor, quickly banishing that musty nose: think milk chocolate, apple crumble, and dry sherry.

The finish is medium in length, with the taste of a milk chocolate and hazelnut bar lingering on the tongue. The drier Amontillado sherry becomes more apparent here, and a gentle spice ties everything up nicely. The Amontillado influence truly earns its place.

Firkin Rare sample number two is a 13-year-old Teaninich, the oldest of the four in the set. Its “soulmate” is a tawny port cask. The Firkin Rare series also includes a 10-year-old Aultmore, likewise matured in tawny port. The Rare series focuses on whiskies from distilleries that release little to nothing under their own label and mostly disappear into blends.

To cut straight to the chase: a fruit bomb. A rich, concentrated nose of blackberries, cranberries, Karvan Cévitam cassis, and breakfast cereal leaps from the glass. The first sip is surprisingly fresh compared to that dense, concentrated aroma. On the palate, malt and fruit weave together into something like forest-fruit jam on freshly toasted bread.

The finish is long and thought-provoking as new flavors emerge. Dark heather honey, paired with a savory note that’s hard to pin down, makes this Teaninich seriously compelling.

Firkin Ten The third sample is a Benrinnes whose “soulmate” was a Madeira cask, a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of Madeira, known for its sweet, nutty profile. The Firkin 10 series features only 10-year-old whiskies, including this Benrinnes.

This Benrinnes matured in an ex-Madeira cask, and you can definitely smell it. A sweet aroma, reminiscent of mead, makes a beeline for your nose. We also catch caramelized apples and, as the sweetness settles, floral notes emerge. While the cask influence is clear on the nose, the palate is more restrained.

It takes a moment to pin down what the first sip brings. A subtle spiciness develops and the mouthfeel is soft. On the tongue come the first walnuts, followed by brown sugar and Dutch coffee candies (Haagse hopjes). The finish is sweet and creamy like caramel, but lacks a bit of depth.

Firkin Islay The final sample hails from the Caol Ila distillery on Islay and was matured in an Italian Marsala cask. Marsala is a fortified sweet wine, in this case from the Italian island of Sicily. The smokiness and maritime salinity of Caol Ila pair beautifully with the sweetness the Marsala imparts to the whisky.

As you pour, this Firkin Islay looks oily, and although the ABV is the same across all samples, the legs descend more slowly than the other three. The nose quickly reveals the whisky’s smokiness, closely followed by the Marsala’s sweetness. The whole orchard wafts from the glass: from apricot jam to dried figs. A small downside is that the peat is almost lost amid all this fruit-forward power.

That thought vanishes with the first sip. Something lovely unfolds between the returning smoke, the sea’s salinity, and the restrained sweetness of the fruit. These two extremes come together in a celebration of plums, pepper, minerals, citrus and a touch of woodsmoke. The finish is long, smoky, honey-sweet and warming.

The bottlings Firkin Whisky has released stand out for the brand’s own custom casks and finishes in distinctive wine barrels. All four series are high-quality, flavorful whiskies offering a broad spectrum of taste. These limited editions are ideal for collectors and discerning drinkers with deeper pockets, because the prices don’t pull any punches. As a result, the various editions from Firkin Whisky are less approachable for beginners.

+ Flavorful whiskies from distinctive casks

+ A range of wine finishes, ensuring there’s a profile to suit everyone

- On the pricey side

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