First Impressions
Master of Malt's experimental aged gin range takes their Bathtub Gin and rests it in different cask types — each bottled at 43.3% with the only variable being the wood. The Amontillado expression spent 19 months in ex-sherry casks, absorbing the nutty, saline complexity that makes Amontillado one of the world's most sophisticated fortified wines.
Tasting
Cold-compounded Bathtub Gin botanicals — juniper, coriander, cinnamon, orange peel, clove, cassia — aged 19 months in Amontillado sherry casks. The nose is sherry nuttiness with almond and saline notes. On the palate at 43.3%, nutty sherry influence: the Amontillado adds dry, oxidative complexity while Bathtub's spice persists through the ageing. The finish is dry and nutty with the Amontillado's distinctive saline character.
The Bottom Line
Master of Malt Amontillado Cask earns a 7 — a fascinating experiment in how sherry wood transforms gin. The nutty, saline quality of Amontillado provides a flavour dimension that bourbon or wine barrels cannot replicate. Best sipped neat like a fino sherry, or in a Martinez where the sherry notes create a bridge to the vermouth. At £45, a limited edition for the adventurous.
