We all know Oloroso and PX sherry casks, but in this video I go down a very different rabbit hole: Fino sherry. I’m tasting and reviewing the Laizhou Fino Sherry Cask—a Chinese single malt matured in Fino barrels—and it ends up being one of the driest whiskies I’ve tasted in recent memory. I break down what Fino sherry actually is (pale, incredibly dry, Palomino grapes, almond/fresh dough/herbal vibes) and why that matters when you translate it into whisky. I run through my full notes: on the nose I’m getting thick, caramelised jam, a bit of plum, raisin, ripe apple, and an aromatic woody note that leans cedar. On the palate, the first shock is the dryness—it’s so dry it almost doesn’t feel like liquid on the tongue, you just get flavour and warmth. Despite that, there’s still a surprising caramelised brown sugar sweetness, with raisin fruit coming through, and a finish that just hangs around for ages—eventually turning a bit leathery/tobacco-like. I also compare my impressions to Laizhou’s official tasting notes (and call out where I disagree—looking at you, liquorice). For a NAS, no colour added, bottled at 46%, and around $135 AUD, I’m genuinely impressed—especially given Laizhou only started laying down single malt in 2021 and they’re already showing this level of balance.