Emperors Way Frederick II - Amarone Hogsheads & Marsala Casks Finish (Hercynian Distilling Elsburn)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 57.1% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

The eight-year-old Emperor's Way Frederick II combines Elsburn distillates produced between 2016 and 2018. The range uses local barley, with the malt kilned over peat from Lower Saxony to a level of up to 35 ppm. The single malt initially matured in Amarone hogsheads before being finished in Marsala casks.

The whisky was bottled in 2026 at a cask strength of 57.1%, without added colouring or chill filtration. Its edition of 1,220 bottles refers to the year of Frederick II's imperial coronation. Each bottle contains 0.7 litres and is presented in a wooden box.

The whisky's aromatic spectrum extends from cherry, plum, grape, orange zest and dried fruit through berries and vanilla to dark chocolate, mild coffee, toffee, pepper and peat smoke.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, intense peat smoke and spices mingle with cherry, plum, grape and raisin, while orange zest provides a subtle accent.
• Palate: The whisky is full-bodied and powerful on the palate. Dried fruit, cherry, plum and grape meet dark chocolate, mild coffee, spices and peat smoke.
• Finish: The finish is long, warming and dry. Smoke, peppery spice, mild coffee and fruity sweetness linger, rounded off by a note of toffee.

Distillery/Bottler:

Hercynian Distilling Co. produces Frederick II at the Elsburn Distillery, where it is bottled as an official release in the Emperor's Way range. The distillery produces single malt from malted barley using pot stills and began filling its first whisky casks in 2002.

For Emperor's Way, the team makes the cuts at around 75% and 60% ABV. Before cask maturation, the heart of the run is reduced to 60% ABV with spring water. The subsequent bottling, corking, sealing and labelling are carried out by hand.

Facts: