Garryana 11th Edition: A Return to Cask Strength

Our exploration of Garryana has always been one of purpose and patience: a sustained effort to understand what our native oak is capable of. For 2026, the 11th Edition of Garryana reflects a curious continuity. We continue to search for what Garryana can be, we pulled from our exchange cask stocks and returned to cask strength, a proof not seen since 2016 in the first edition.

Over the years, we’ve pursued contrast as a form of understanding. Our Master Blender, Shane, took on the first Garryana release, and each subsequent version has charted a journey towards uncovering the flavors of Garry oak. In earlier expressions, Shane layered peated malt into the blend and found a savory balance of tannin and smoke. We also filled sherry casks, matching their richness with the complex spice of Garry oak casks. We’ve explored re-filled garryana oak casks, rum casks, brandy casks, and all kinds of different barley malts in the Garryana whiskey recipe. Each expression slowly finds focus.

Each edition is a calibration. Some releases leaned into the savory, others the sweet, each a waypoint on the long road toward comprehension. We never sought to repeat ourselves, but rather to listen closely enough that the next step revealed itself.

Bottling at cask strength is more than a nod to our 1st Edition in 2016. Shane has been thinking about returning to cask strength for years. "With the right combination of casks, the whole experience is extended," he says. It starts with an effortless nose: a swirl of spice and cooked fruit. Then the more specific notes come forward, like clove and apple. Cask strength also coats the palate and lingers, giving each of those flavors room to stretch out. That mirrors how we blend. Add a cask or take one away, and notes can soften or intensify. Shane thinks of it as the space between notes.

For the 11th Edition, nearly half the casks we chose once held beer. Through our Cask Exchange program, we loan barrels to local brewers, and over time we've built up a deep stock of them. Each one carries a signature of the place we call home, from imperial stouts and porters to barleywines and tripel-style ales.

Pairing those casks with Garry Oak created something unexpected. The character feels familiar but is hard to place, with notes you might mistake for sherry until you learn what's behind them. It holds your attention and gives you time to trace the arc of the Garry Oak. Every edition is a new way of framing this one-of-a-kind oak, and a chance to get a little closer to grasping what’s possible.