Second fill on an intense Oloroso Sherrycask
Casks can be reused multiple times for whisky maturation. On a second fill, the cask’s influence is still present but less dominant than the first time around. This allows for a more balanced whisky, where the character from the new make spirit shines through more clearly.
When a cask, like this one, is used repeatedly for smoky new make, the smoke builds up over time. A brand new cask, on the other hand, might absorb some of that smoke along the way.