How to read the label of a Cadenhead single cask whisky
No age claim in bold letters, no familiar brand logo — the label on a Cadenhead bottle looks austere, almost sober. But anyone who knows what to look for can read the complete story of that one cask at a glance. A short guide through the key details.
In short
| Distillery | The source of the whisky, often listed separately from the brand name Cadenhead |
| Age | Number of years of aging of that specific barrel |
| VAT number | Unique cask number of the cask from which this bottling comes |
| Barrel type | For example, ex-bourbon or ex-sherry |
| Alcohol percentage | Usually at cask strength, so different per cask |
The distillery comes first, not Cadenhead.
With a bottle of Cadenhead, provenance is the most important piece of information on the label: the name of the distillery that originally produced the whisky, such as Springbank, GlenAllachie, or Craigellachie. Cadenhead itself is also listed, but as a bottler — not as a producer. That distinction is precisely why independent bottlings are so interesting: you taste the distillery, seen through the eyes of another cask selector.
Cask number and cask type: the fingerprint of the whisky
Because every Cadenhead bottling typically comes from a single cask, that cask is given its own number on the label — the fingerprint of that specific bottle. Additionally, Cadenhead indicates the cask type, such as ex-bourbon or ex-sherry, which strongly determines which flavours the whisky picked up during maturation: vanilla and coconut from a bourbon cask, or red fruit and cinnamon from a sherry cask.
Age and strength: no two bottles the same
The age on the label refers to the number of years that this particular cask has matured, and the alcohol percentage is typically the cask strength at which it was bottled — often between 50 and 60 percent. Because both figures vary by cask, no two Cadenhead labels are exactly the same, even from the same distillery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the distillery name larger on the label than Cadenhead?
Because the origin of the whisky is the most important factor for the taster: Cadenhead bottles the whisky, but the distillery distilled it.
What is a drum number and why is it on the label?
The cask number identifies the specific cask from which the bottling comes. Because each cask has its own character, this number is the key to knowing exactly what you have in your glass.
Why does the alcohol percentage vary per Cadenhead bottle?
Cadenhead usually bottles at cask strength: the strength at which the whisky naturally emerges from the cask, without being diluted to a fixed percentage. As a result, that percentage varies from cask to cask.
Does the barrel type say anything about the taste?
Certainly. An ex-bourbon cask typically imparts lighter, vanilla and woody notes, while an ex-sherry cask provides richer, dark fruity and spicy flavors.
