From Sparrow’s Scotch and single malt list, the McCarthy’s 6 Year Sherry Cask is a cask-strength American single malt for serious whisky drinkers ($30 by the pour, or $45 for a larger pour).
About McCarthy’s 6 Year Sherry Cask
This is a cask strength 6 year American Single Malt aged in PX sherry casks. It comes from the McCarthy’s line made by Clear Creek Distillery, founded by Steve McCarthy in Oregon and now part of Hood River Distillers, one of the pioneers of American single malt built on the Islay model of peat-malted barley. PX, short for Pedro Ximenez, is the sweetest, richest style of sherry, and aging in those casks gives the whisky a deep, dessert-like layer. Bottled at cask strength, this is a bold, full-power expression.
Tasting Notes
McCarthy’s is built around smoky, peat-malted barley, and the PX sherry casks add a rich, sweet, dried-fruit depth on top of that smoke. At cask strength it is intense and full-bodied, so a few drops of water can open it up. Expect a powerful, layered single malt that rewards slow sipping.
What to Pair It With
A cask-strength, sherry-aged malt like this is best enjoyed neat, with water on the side to taste, in our 21+ lounge after dinner. From the Sparrow dinner menu its smoke and sweetness pair beautifully with the American Wagyu steaks or the Sparrow-Smoked Rack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is McCarthy’s 6 Year Sherry Cask?
It is a cask strength 6 year American single malt aged in PX (Pedro Ximenez) sherry casks, from the McCarthy’s line made by Clear Creek Distillery in Oregon.
What does cask strength mean here?
It means the whiskey is bottled at full barrel strength rather than diluted down, so it is bold and intense. A little water can help open up the smoke and sherry character.
How much is a pour of McCarthy’s 6 Year Sherry Cask at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, the McCarthy’s 6 Year Sherry Cask is $30 by the pour, or $45 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu alongside its sibling the McCarthy 6 Oloroso Finish and the original McCarthy’s Single Malt. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.