04-year-old Cask Friends Whisky

Cley Distillery was founded in 2015 when Paul den Dulk and Maria Neves established a small craft operation in Rotterdam. Their Cask Friends initiative invites customers to fill their own cask with new spirit and track maturation — creating a direct, personal connection to the whisky's journey. This four-year expression combines four years in ex-Ardbeg with a half-year Pedro Ximénez finish, marrying Scottish smoke with Dutch craft tradition.

The cask pairing is deliberate: Ardbeg maturation brings peat, smoke, and spice, while the PX finish layers dried fruit, toffee, and richness. The result is not a smooth compromise, but an intentional dialogue between two strong characters.

On the nose, eucalyptus, clove, nutmeg, and ginger emerge alongside apple and citrus brightness. The palate is syrupy and spiced, with caramel and oak. The finish stretches long and warm, leaving chocolate and stone fruit in its wake. This is a whisky that rewards close attention.