Old Well Kagor Cask Finish Review: Scottish Barley, Czech Distillation, and Unique Cask Aging

Today, we're diving into a whisky from Czech Republic, proving that Scotland isn’t the sole creator of delightful drams. Across Europe, individuals are busily crafting their own whisky. Discover it all in this Old Well Kagor Cask Finish Review.

The Czech Republic is best known for its beers. As every whisky starts as a kind of beer, the land of pilsner certainly has the potential to create fine whiskies too. Nestled in the hills of South Bohemia, along the Vltava River, is Old Well Whisky – a prime example of this craft. We’re reviewing a whisky that was matured in a Kagor cask.

Kagor is a sweet, rich red wine hailing from Moldova. This wine boasts a unique history and origin. By the 18th century, even Russian churches and the Tsar himself started employing French wines, particularly wines from Cahors, which were locally referred to as ‘Kagor’.

In a country filled with winemaking history, Kagor has evolved into a truly local product today. It could have led someone to think, why not utilize something from Eastern Europe, instead of the “usual” port casks?

Destilérka Svach is an ambition of Svachovka, a resort with its own brewery, Glokner. Old Well Whisky begins with a fermentation of barley malt in this brewery and is then distilled twice in the Scottish fashion. The only still at Destilérka Svach is Czech made and has a capacity of 300 liters.

It is slightly odd that, for such a small artisanal micro-distillery, Destilérka Svach doesn't overly focus on local ingredients. Save for the Bohemian New Oak expression, there's no use of Czech oak barrels or barley.

Old Well Whisky originates from Scottish barley, both peated and non-peated. If you lean towards Scottish whiskies, then this is ace, but for someone seeking a more local touch, it’s a little disappointing.

This Kagor Cask whisky offers a blend of many barrels of unpeated single malt and a few peated malt barrels. There is no added caramel color and no chill filtration. So, it is an unpretentious whisky, with a character wholly determined by the Scottish barley, Czech distillation, and its unique cask maturation.

In addition to the Kagor Cask, Old Well offers three other whiskies in their standard repertoire: Bohemian New Oak, Porto Peated, and Bourbon/Sherry. Each whisky is matured in bourbon barrels and finished in a unique way. These whiskies don't have age statements, but we know they are between four and five years old.

The Kagor Cask whisky carries faint smoky flavors, which are balanced and pleasing. On the nose, you encounter a hint of peat smoke, which feels stronger on the palate. The smoke in this whisky is somewhat floral, rather than reminiscent of a wood fire or campfire.

The fruity flavors from the Kagor wine cask are akin to a sweet ruby port with notes of plums and red grapes. The flavors from the cask itself are subtle, and the light vanilla essence derived from the old bourbon barrels is detectable as well.

As a younger single malt whisky, the Kagor Cask carries a bit of spiciness but no acid: young but not too young on the tongue. This expression is just five years old, and not as robust or refined as if the spirit had aged a bit more.

Possibly the best part of this whisky is the finish. The drink doesn’t carry any sharp flavor often associated with younger whiskies. It’s a signature of Old Well Whisky, endowed with a rich and warm aftertaste. 

Old Well Whisky could become a highly recognized name in the whisky industry. The distillery has a clear array of single malt whiskies that blend Scottish traditions with fresh ideas. The Kagor Cask serves as an ideal starting point for those wanting to experience Czech whisky. Although this whisky isn’t the richest or most refined, it is easy to drink. The flavor is sweet with a clear whiff of peat smoke, and the whisky carries a pleasant finish.

+ Unique cask maturation, with good sweet flavors from Kagor wine

+ Promising start for a young single malt

+ An affordable and attractive bottle, with the novelty of Czech whisky

- Not easily obtainable in the Netherlands

- Produced without local barley

Find all our whisky reviews in this overview.