No stranger to the whisky world, reputable Brand Ambassador Phil Huckle is the latest Master to join our ever-growing team of whisky nerds.
How long have you worked for Cask Trade?
1 day, 4 hrs and 50mins and counting....
What first ignited your passion for Whisky?
I moved to Austin Texas when I was 21 and many of my new Texan friends drank Scotch so I was influenced by them and grew to love it from there...!
What are your top three favourite World Whiskies and why?
Balvenie 21yr Port Word, Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask & The Glenlivet 18yr. I generally prefer whiskies which are rich sweet, fruity and aged for a decent amount of time in sherry or port casks. The Kavalan distillery makes some fantastic expressions and the whisky ages very quickly in Taiwan as it has a tropical climate. I was fortunate to visit the distillery a few years back and has been a favourite ever since.
What are your favourite flavours? Which aspects of whisky are the most important for you?
As above the Speyside style really suits my pallet and I love the rich fruity dry nutty flavours that come from sherry casks or with a port cask finish.
 Your favourite Whisky cocktail?
For many years it was a 'blood & sand' but these days I am very fond of the whisky highball, especially if it is made correctly. It needs very good quality ice and chilled glasses and must be stirred for a decent amount of time. It was visiting various bars in Tokyo two years ago that got me hooked. The Japanese bartenders have turned making this simple elegant drink into an art form.
Whisky with water or straight cask strength?
For me definitely with water. I generally start with one drop and build up from there and taste and nose the whisky at different ABVs. Every whisky will thus have a sweet spot which is then perfect for your individual pallet. I can’t drink whisky at 60+ % neat, not much anyway!
What do you like most about Cask Trade?
It’s a small growing reputable company which has established itself in a really exciting growing part of the industry. Just as important is that it’s a really nice group of people that are fun to work with.
Why should people invest in Whisky Casks?
It’s a very safe investment with really good growth. As the casks mature the value of the whisky increases. An example of this is a bottle of 18yr old single malt scotch will always cost a lot more than its younger 12yr old cousin. The same applies to casks. Scotch whisky has global appeal around the world and sales are expanding on nearly every continent. Also, you don’t have to cash in your investment.... you can drink it!