Diptych: A work of liquid beauty in two parts

The Creators Collection is a series that brings liquid storytelling to life, curated to create the ultimate whisky flights. Each release celebrates unique flavour stories, presenting whisky as a creative work of art in beautifully designed one-of-a-kind bottles.

Nowhere is this more apt than in Diptych: A work of liquid beauty in two parts, which draws inspiration from the art world to create the ultimate flight in symmetry and contrast. Traditionally, a diptych is a work of art presented in two panels, often hinged, designed to be viewed side by side. Each part is distinct, but together they tell a richer tale. In whisky, we see the same story when casks diverge, evolve and then come together again.

This collection brings together two casks from distillery 96. The whisky in both Cask No. 96.41: The ‘Iberian’ and Cask No. 96.42: The ‘American’ was distilled on 18 November 1994 and matured for 28 years in oloroso sherry butts. After 28 years we decided to send them on separate journeys, with a period of additional maturation in two first fill Pedro Ximénez casks – one in American oak, the other in Spanish.

These final years of maturation reveal the contrast in oak character through the lens of our Dried Fruits & Spices flavour profile. While Cask No. 96.42: The ‘American’ leans into soft orchard fruits, pastry, and honeyed warmth, Cask No. 96.41: The ‘Iberian’ offers rich spice, dark berries, sandalwood, and leather. Each whisky can stand alone – but side by side, they form a portrait: one distillery, one age and two sherry paths that create one complete picture.

While both whiskies have sweet, woody, spicy and fruity notes, these are different in each whisky. To understand why, you need to understand the differences between the two oak species used in this collection. Spanish oak and American oak have unique compositions, which, in turn, will affect flavour.

American white oak is higher in oak lactone and lignin and lower in tannins. The resulting flavours are sweet and can include coconut, vanilla and baking spices. In contrast, Spanish oak is lower in lactones and higher in tannins, resulting in a more ‘woody’ character that’s spicy, wine-like and more structured on the palate. With this in mind, it’s easier to understand the synergy between these two whiskies and why they are a pair to be poured side by side.

“This pair is perfect to compare and contrast,” says head of whisky creation Euan Campbell. “Higher tannin content in the Spanish oak brings deep spices, exotic woods and a ‘sugar puff’ sweetness, while the American oak offers more custardy desserts, tropical fruits and Black Forest gateau.”

You can try these whiskies side by side in our £67 Diptych flight – available at all UK Members’ Rooms on release.

Discover Diptych: A work of liquid beauty in two parts