Scapegrace Chorus Limited Release II

Chorus II is the second release in Scapegrace’s numbered Limited Release series and it’s a good example of what virgin French oak does in a modern, relatively young single malt. With a clearly defined outturn of 7,824 bottles and a 46% bottling strength, it sits in that sweet spot where the whisky keeps texture and aromatics without drifting into heat or dilution.

Virgin French oak is the backbone here. Fresh oak carries a higher load of extractable wood compounds than refill casks, so flavour builds quickly and with more definition. French oak also tends to push more tannin and spice than American oak, which means you get grip and dryness alongside sweetness rather than a soft vanilla only profile. On the chemistry side, ellagitannins contribute the drying structure and firmness on the finish, while lignin breakdown products bring vanilla and spice notes that read closer to clove and allspice than caramel.

The result is a fruit led profile held in place by oak structure. Think citrus lift and poached pear up front, then tightening through the mid palate as spice and tannin take over. Bottled at 46% ABV, the whisky retains enough concentration to carry those top notes while keeping the wood driven finish clean and controlled.