Is older whisky always better?

The older the whisky, the better it is; truly good whisky comes from Scotland; single malts taste better than blends—quite a few statements are made in the whisky world. But what is true? And what is nonsense? I asked whisky expert Sietse Offringa. This week: is older whisky always better?

Sietse: “People often think that an older whisky is by definition also smoother and richer, but it all depends on the cask and the distillery. The cask in which the whisky has matured determines up to 80 percent of its flavor: did the whisky mature in American or European oak, and is it a first-fill or refill cask? (No idea what that is? read about it here.)”

Balance

“The more often a cask is used, the less active it becomes and the more elegant the cask’s influence on the whisky. With an active cask, finding balance becomes increasingly difficult as the whisky gets older; a refill cask is much more balanced in that respect.”

Highland Park 12 vs 25 years

“Take, for example, the difference between Highland Park 12 and 25 years. The 12 is a round, balanced whisky that has a little of every flavor type. A bit of fruit, a bit of grain, a bit of smoke, etc. Highland Park 25 is much darker and the flavor profile is much richer, which points to more active casks. The whisky may feel smooth in terms of texture, but the flavor is considerably more powerful.”