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The wine that's not for drinking

Casks maturing in a sherry bodega

Richard revives his Spittoon column with the curious story of the Jerezanos' other business.

Which traditional white wine is aged in 100% new oak for two years, only to be turned into vinegar?

Millions of litres of it are maturing in brand-new barrels right now, soaking up all that expensive flavour, before fulfilling their unlikely destiny. In fact, their fate is determined from the moment the grapes are picked, because this wine is a mere waste product from a far more profitable industry.

That industry is whisky, and the wine is sherry – at least, in theory.

montage of sherry cask whisky labels

Why whisky loves

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