Thornæs Distillery Cask 118 Friends of Thornæs Organic Single Malt Danish Whisky 50 cl 58,9%

Between the Gribskov forest and Solbjerg Engsø lies the Falkendal farm, and in the old horse stable the copper stills stand ready. Cask #118 was filled in March 2022 and left alone for a little over four years. Now it has a bottle of its own.

Expert description

Thornæs Friends of Thornæs Cask 118 is an organic Danish Single Malt Whisky matured in a 130-litre Oloroso sherry cask of French oak and bottled at 58.9%.

This is a Private Cask Bottling in a limited edition, with only approx. 250 bottles from a single cask. It was bottled exclusively for Friends of Thornæs, a Facebook group for people who follow the distillery. Thornæs Distillery distilled, matured and bottled it themselves. The cask was filled on March 14, 2022, and the whisky was bottled on July 29, 2026. It is non-chill filtered and has natural colour. The distillery double distils on traditional alembic copper stills.

The cask does a lot of the talking here. The Oloroso pulls the whisky in a dark, full direction, while the French oak adds structure, spicy wood notes and a dry finish. It is the balance between the two that makes this bottle worth pouring.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe, dark fruit and prunes lead the way, with a candied sweetness behind them.

Palate

The Oloroso fills the mouth with roasted nuts and warm spices. The French oak pushes back with spicy wood notes and an elegant dryness, so the sweetness never takes over.

Finish

Long and warm. Fruit sweetness, spice and oak travel together all the way out.

Specifications

Name: Thornæs Friends of Thornæs Cask 118
Distillery: Thornæs Distillery
Region/Country: North Zealand, Denmark
Type: Danish Single Malt Whisky
Age: 4 years
ABV: 58.9%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: French oak, Oloroso sherry, 130 L
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: July 29, 2026
Number of bottles: approx. 250
Edition: Private Cask Bottling Limited Edition, Cask #118, Friends of Thornæs

Flavour profile

Sherried · Ripe fruit · Spicy · Roasted nuts · Oak

Did you know?

The Mad Owl gin range from Thornæs Distillery is named after an owl that once lived in the distillery loft.

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Frequently asked questions about Thornæs Friends of Thornæs Cask 118

What does Thornæs Cask 118 taste like?

It tastes of dark, ripe fruit, prunes and candied sweetness, with roasted nuts and warm spices in the middle. The French oak adds a dry, spicy finish. The aftertaste is long and warm.

What do an Oloroso sherry cask and French oak do to the whisky?

The Oloroso cask brings the dark, full side: fruit, nuts and sweetness. The French oak adds structure, spicy wood notes and dryness. Together they keep each other in check, so the whisky is neither too sweet nor too dry.

Is Thornæs Cask 118 a rare bottle?

Yes, only approx. 250 bottles were made from one single cask. It is a Private Cask Bottling, bottled exclusively for Friends of Thornæs, which makes it one of the more limited bottlings from Thornæs Distillery.

Should I add water to a whisky at 58.9%?

Taste it neat first, then add a few drops at a time if it feels too strong. At 58.9%, a little water can open up the aromas and soften the alcohol without losing the fruit and spice from the Oloroso cask. Pour it into a Glencairn Whisky Glass, where the narrow top gathers the aromas.

Who is behind Thornæs Distillery?

Thornæs Distillery is in Kagerup near Helsinge in North Zealand. It was founded in 2018 by the writer and journalist Torben Thornæs Andersen. It was the first distillery in North Zealand to focus on organic Danish Single Malt Whisky, and its first whisky was released in 2023.

Is Thornæs Cask 118 a good gift?

Yes, for anyone who enjoys sherried whisky or is curious about Danish Whisky. The small run, the cask strength and the personal bottling make it more interesting than a standard release.