Some cask finishes are pretty easy to wrap your head around. Angel’s Envy, for example, has a new blend of rye whiskeys given a secondary maturation in peach brandy casks and toasted oak barrels—there is, unsurprisingly, a fairly strong peach-cobbler note present. And sherry butts, which are frequently used to age scotch, tend to add a bit of nuttiness and hints of dried fruit, warm spice, and chocolate sweetness (depending on whether you’re talking about Oloroso or PX, of course).

Whiskeys finished in red wine barrels, on the other hand, can be a little bit perplexing to some. Distilleries often offer vague descriptors like “dark fruits” and—a personal favorite—“red wine notes.” Still, there are subtle differences to be found with the use of red wine casks, particularly when you also take into account the length of aging/finishing, specific type of wood, and the style of whiskey maturing inside the barrel (bourbon, rye, scotch, etc.). Even then, it helps to know if an ex-Syrah cask was European or Australian (where it’s called Shiraz), because that's another detail that will affect the flavor of the whiskey.

It’s also not uncommon for distilleries or blenders to age their whiskey in multiple types of wine casks, or in a combination of wine and second-uses spirits casks. If we’re just talking red wine, the Dalmore, for example, uses up to five different types of red wine barrels, while Glenfiddich recently released a single malt that utilized three.

We have put together a basic guide to different types of wine barrels and how they affect whiskey (or whisky), focusing on examples that rely more on a single barrel type or a single barrel finish. Taste is entirely subjective, of course, but this is a helpful gauge to interpret just what a particular cask type might do to the whiskey inside of it.

Cabernet Sauvignon

This type of wine finish offers tannic, spicier notes, particularly if the barrels were crafted from French oak, as well as hints of dark fruit, black currant, and cinnamon. Notable releases include expressions from Barrell Craft Spirits, Crown Royal, Jefferson’s, Ammunition, and WhistlePig.

Zinfandel

Not as prevalent in the industry, red Zinfandel wine barrel finishes (the wine barrels are usually sourced from the U.S.) offer jammy, rich notes of pomegranate, cherry, and orchard fruits with a dry finish. You’ll find limited-edition releases from the Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection, Savage & Cooke, and Green Spot. 

Pinot Noir

These dark-skinned grapes produce wines that leave spicy and earthy notes in the barrels, sometimes with hints of dark cherry and strawberries. You’ll find notable bottles made using this cask finish from Westward, Woodford Reserve, Longrow, and Brixeur. 

Syrah/Shiraz

A red grape with two names; the flavors here depend on the region (Syrah being more peppery and savory, while Shiraz is bolder and fruit-forward). Some notable examples include bottles from Dingle, Starward, Backwoods, and High West.

Merlot

Black cherry, raspberries, and plum are the key notes that whiskeys aged in these casks pick up, which also offer soft and subtle tannins. Some prime examples include Thomas S. Moore, Blood Oath, Edradour, and Tomintoul.

Malbec

Primarily French or Argentinian, these casks provide hints of blackberries, plums, cherries, cocoa, tobacco, and even a bit of florality. You can find them in various releases from Aberfeldy, Union Horse, Longrow, and Elliott Brothers.

Cabernet Franc

Wines from these grapes often sport a green pepper aroma, and offer savory and dark fruit notes along with hints of minerality. You can find bottles using this cask finish from Great Jones, Dewar’s, Traverse City Whiskey Co. and Buffalo Trace’s Experimental Collection.