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  • 10 Best Dry Sherry in the UK 2024 (Waitrose, Tio Pepe and More) 1
  • 10 Best Dry Sherry in the UK 2024 (Waitrose, Tio Pepe and More) 2
  • 10 Best Dry Sherry in the UK 2024 (Waitrose, Tio Pepe and More) 3
  • 10 Best Dry Sherry in the UK 2024 (Waitrose, Tio Pepe and More) 4
  • 10 Best Dry Sherry in the UK 2024 (Waitrose, Tio Pepe and More) 5

10 Best Dry Sherry in the UK 2024 (Waitrose, Tio Pepe and More)

When someone mentions sherry you immediately think of your gran having a glass of sweet cream sherry at Christmas, but it's had a bit of a renaissance in recent years and there’s so much more to sherry than putting it in a trifle! With the rise in popularity of tapas restaurants in the UK, we've really developed a taste for one of Spain’s most famous liquid exports. But where to begin if you’re unfamiliar?


If you've often asked yourself, “What is the best sherry for cooking or drinking?” then we’ve got everything you need to know. We’ve scrutinised all the dry, medium and extra dry sherry offerings from supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Waitrose to bring you the best dry sherry brands so you can find your next favourite tipple. Read on to find out more! 

Last updated 28/03/2024

Quick List - Top Dry Sherry

1

Williams & Humbert

12 Year Old Oloroso
12 Year Old Oloroso

Substantial Yet Balanced Flavours in an Award-Winning Sherry

2

Apostoles

Palo Cortado Muy Viejo
Palo Cortado Muy Viejo

Dark, Complex and Intense Flavours Blending Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximenez Grapes

3

Tio Pepe

Palomino Fino Sherry
Palomino Fino Sherry

The Chalky Soils of Jerez Create This Fresh-Tasting Fino

4

Hidalogo

La Gitana Manzanilla
La Gitana Manzanilla

Flavours of Sea Breezes and Dried Fruits

5

Waitrose

Fino Sherry
Fino Sherry

Bright, Refreshing and Great for Cooking or Drinking

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Table of Contents

How to Choose a Dry Sherry in the UK - Buying Guide

If you’re totally new to dry sherry, it can seem a bit overwhelming to know where to begin. That’s why we’ve pulled everything you need to know into a handy buying guide. You’ll soon know your Amanzanilla from your Oloroso, so keep reading to learn all about this delicious fortified wine.

1

Consider What Type of Dry Sherry You Would Prefer

Sherry is actually a generic term, and if you were to go into a bar in Andalusia and ask for a sherry they'd be fairly confused as they call sherry by its type. Each different type has a range of flavours that come from both their grape blend and how they were aged, and the results vary so much that there's sure to be a variety to suit everyone! Here's what you can expect from each one.

Fino Is the Most Widely Available Dry Sherry and a Good Place to Start

Fino Is the Most Widely Available Dry Sherry and a Good Place to Start

The Fino style is perhaps the most straightforward and widely available dry sherry and is often associated with the flavours of bread, fresh herbs and almonds. It is aged in barrels under a film of its own yeast called a flor, which gives just enough exposure to the air to develop its flavours.


Fino is a good and fairly inexpensive first introduction to the world of dry sherries, and is best served chilled and enjoyed with some delicious tapas.

Manzanilla Is Similar in Style to Fino Sherry but Rarer

Manzanilla Is Similar in Style to Fino Sherry but Rarer

Manzanilla is very similar to Fino in the respect that it is aged in barrels under a layer of natural flor, but Manzanilla sherry is only made in the town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.


Like Fino, its flavours are reminiscent of bread and camomile and is best served chilled. It goes especially well with olives, fish, seafood and Jamón Serrano.

Amontillado Is Cask Aged for a Deeper Flavour

Amontillado Is Cask Aged for a Deeper Flavour

Amontillado sherry is a bit darker than Fino or Manzanilla, as after it has aged under its flor it is then cask-aged to expose it to more oxygen. This gives the finished product a darker, tawny appearance and a deeper woodsy, nutty and fruity flavour.


Rather than lighter dishes and seafood, this means that it is best paired with slightly richer foods such as grilled mushrooms, white meat, chorizo, cheese and pâté. 

Palo Cortado Sherry Offers the Best of Two Worlds

Palo Cortado Sherry Offers the Best of Two Worlds

Palo Cortado has a flavour that is difficult to place, and on the nose is similar to an Amontillado but it drinks more like an Oloroso. Its origins are unclear, and it is a wine that happens more by accident than by actively producing it.


It is created like a Fino sherry, but unplanned yeast activity changes its flavour profile to give a lighter version of an Oloroso. It is often described as buttery and nutty with a full body, flavours of dried fruits and a salty tang, and is delicious paired with grilled fish, sausages, aged cheese and dried meats. 

Oloroso Is the Richest and Most Complex of the Dry Sherries

Oloroso Is the Richest and Most Complex of the Dry Sherries

Oloroso sherry is aged the longest of all the dry sherries, but rather than being aged under its flor, it is aged primarily in casks to concentrate the flavour. The result is a dark wine, that, while being naturally dry, gives a roundness and an impression of sweetness.


The flavour profile is dense and rich and is reminiscent of toasted walnuts, balsamic and tobacco. It is fantastic paired with hearty game, red meats, and well-aged cheeses. 

2

What Food You Plan to Pair Your Dry Sherry With?

What Food You Plan to Pair Your Dry Sherry With?

Dry sherry is delicious enough on its own, but if you want to pair it with food you should always take heed of the tasting notes on the bottle to get a truly fantastic pairing.


While we’ve touched on the different food pairings with the various types of sherry above, there is one point worth remembering – the same type of sherry can vary in flavour between producers, so you may find that one maker's sherry is more suited to your dish than another even though they produce the same type.


It also comes down to personal taste, but as you get to know the different dry sherries available you can begin to have fun working out what foods you like to pair them with. 

3

Be Aware of the Alcohol Content of What You're Drinking

Be Aware of the Alcohol Content of What You're Drinking

It's a beautiful sunny day and you’ve cracked open a bottle (or two) of a deliciously dry sherry to drink with some tapas as you bask in the heat and try to convince yourself that you’re on holiday. A lovely scene indeed, but it can be very easy to drink more than you intended to, especially when you’re with friends!


You’d be forgiven for thinking that sherry has the same alcohol content as wine, but sherry is fundamentally a fortified wine so while wine is typically around 12%, sherries can be upward of 20% which can make all the difference.


While we’re not ones to ruin anyone’s fun, you should be aware of the alcohol content of the drinks you’re having so that you can maximise your enjoyment and make sensible choices to prevent overindulging. 

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10 Best Dry Sherry in the UK

Now we’ve discovered the different dry sherry available to buy, it’s onto our recommendations. We’ve pulled our 10 favourites to buy online for you to choose one or two to try out, but we won't blame you if you decide to try them all. Fetch yourself a glass and we’ll get going! 
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

Williams & Humbert

12 Year Old Oloroso

Williams & Humbert 12 Year Old Oloroso 1

Substantial Yet Balanced Flavours in an Award-Winning Sherry

2

Apostoles

Palo Cortado Muy Viejo

Apostoles Palo Cortado Muy Viejo 1

Dark, Complex and Intense Flavours Blending Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximenez Grapes

3

Tio Pepe

Palomino Fino Sherry

Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Sherry 1

The Chalky Soils of Jerez Create This Fresh-Tasting Fino

4

Hidalogo

La Gitana Manzanilla

Hidalogo La Gitana Manzanilla 1

Flavours of Sea Breezes and Dried Fruits

5

Waitrose

Fino Sherry

Waitrose Fino Sherry 1

Bright, Refreshing and Great for Cooking or Drinking

6

Barbadillo

Manzanilla Dry Sherry

Barbadillo Manzanilla Dry Sherry 1

Fresh Citrus and Apple Give This Sherry a Crisp Finish

7

Waitrose

Dry Oloroso Sherry

Waitrose Dry Oloroso Sherry 1

Blended Exclusively for Rich Traditional Flavours

8

Delicado

Delicado Amontillado

Delicado Delicado Amontillado 1

Light Yet Complex From the Extended Ageing Period

9

Waitrose

No.1 Palo Cortado Sherry

Waitrose No.1 Palo Cortado Sherry 1

The Taste of Andalusia's Historic Sherry Region

10

Asda

Amontillado Sherry

Asda Amontillado Sherry 1

A Cheap Option With a Distinctive Nutty Nose and Hints of Dry Fruit

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Williams & Humbert
12 Year Old Oloroso

12 Year Old Oloroso 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£8.79
Low Mid
Reference price
£8.79
Low Mid

Substantial Yet Balanced Flavours in an Award-Winning Sherry

Williams & Humbert has been crafting award-winning sherry since 1877, with this amber-coloured offering being a drier style of Oloroso that has been aged for at least 12 years. With notes of dried fruit and nuts that linger in your mouth, this sherry has won a multitude of wine awards and is prefect served slightly chilled.


Rich and savoury, this sherry is likely to become a firm favourite in your drinks cabinet. There is a wide selection of notes in this sherry, and it is satisfyingly substantial without being cloying. It's especially good on the nose, and is very well balanced being both full-bodied and light. A true flavour experience!

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No.2

Apostoles
Palo Cortado Muy Viejo

Reference price
£19.99
High

Dark, Complex and Intense Flavours Blending Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximenez Grapes

This sherry is an International Wine Challenge Gold Medal winner, and it blends of the best Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximenez grapes of over 30 years old in perfect harmony. Dark amber in hue after 30 years ageing in oak, it marries the best of its two grape varieties and is spectacularly intense and complex.


Although this has a higher price point than other sherries in our listing, it offers fantastic value for a wine aged for 30 years and is likely to be way beyond any sherry you've tasted before in terms of quality. The two grapes are balanced perfectly in dryness and sweetness and its richness is unbelievably moreish.

No.3

Tio Pepe
Palomino Fino Sherry

Reference price
£9.00
Low Mid

The Chalky Soils of Jerez Create This Fresh-Tasting Fino

The world’s best-selling Fino sherry, Tio Pepe is produced from Palomino Fino, a grape variety that thrives in the chalky soil of Jerez. It is barrel-aged for a minimum of 5 years to give a crisp, fresh and uncompromisingly dry Fino. Best served chilled straight from the fridge, Tio Pepe is fantastic both on its own or with food.


This is a very decent mid-range sherry that maybe lacks the subtlety of wines from the smaller producers, but it has a solid fan base nonetheless. It lends itself well to being used in cooking but is also fantastic as an aperitif to whet your appetite. If you're looking for something versatile that offers great value, this is hard to beat. 

No.4

Hidalogo
La Gitana Manzanilla

Reference price
£11.19
Mid

Flavours of Sea Breezes and Dried Fruits

This sherry has been matured beneath a constant veil of yeast that only occurs on the beachfront in Sanlucar, giving this Manzanilla a dry but full-bodied finish that's both fruity and minerally in taste. Densely packed on the nose with currants, flowers and oak, it is truly a sherry for all your senses.


Lovers of flavours with a salty hit will love this sherry with its seaside and ozone notes, making it crisp and refreshing but with an unusual edge. This is a good mid-range sherry that could offer a solid alternative to more mainstream producers. 

No.5

Waitrose
Fino Sherry

Fino Sherry 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£7.69
Low Mid
Reference price
£7.69
Low Mid

Bright, Refreshing and Great for Cooking or Drinking

A light crisp Fino sherry in the classic Jerez style, this sherry is full of tangy aromas with a bright, refreshing purity and yeasty notes. Pale and dry while being tangy and refreshing, it marries flavours of apples and almonds with freshly baked bread. It is best served chilled and also pairs well with seafood. 


This is a really excellent basic sherry, and it lends itself to cooking as well as drinking in the sunshine. It possibly lacks somewhat in distinctive character, but it is great value and would be a fantastic first step into the realm of dry sherries for those who aren't sure where to begin. 

No.6

Barbadillo
Manzanilla Dry Sherry

Manzanilla Dry Sherry 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£11.25
Mid
Reference price
£11.25
Mid

Fresh Citrus and Apple Give This Sherry a Crisp Finish

Owned by the Barbadillo family since 1821, this sherry is aged for 3 years to preserve its fresh fruit flavours. Bodegas Barbadillo is the world's leading Manzanilla producer, and this offering is amazingly dry and refreshing with fresh citrus and apple flavours as well as hints of fresh bread and buttery brioche with a saline finish.


Some found this Manzanilla a little too harsh for their liking, saying that it lacked the well-rounded flavour they'd expect from such a producer. That said, there are legions of fans of its crisp and dry fruity finish, and they say that it has a truly authentic flavour and is fantastic value for money.  

No.7

Waitrose
Dry Oloroso Sherry

Dry Oloroso Sherry 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£11.99
Mid
Reference price
£11.99
Mid

Blended Exclusively for Rich Traditional Flavours

This superbly dry Oloroso has been made exclusively for Waitrose & Partners and is blended with assistance from the cellar master of the historic Lustau producer in the heart of Andalusia's sherry region. Traditional in style, it has intense flavours of roasted chestnuts, dried fruits and savoury spices.


This is another fairly divisive sherry, with drinkers either revering its complexity or finding it entirely lacking in subtlety. However, they also remark how well it pairs with strong cheeses and advise that for the price it is a sherry of fantastic quality. This may be one to work up to if you're not sure. 

No.8

Delicado
Delicado Amontillado

Delicado Amontillado 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£15.49
High Mid
Reference price
£15.49
High Mid

Light Yet Complex From the Extended Ageing Period

Made from the very finest Palomino grapes and aged for 12 years, Delicado Amontillado shows the finesse and lightness of a Fino combined with the complexity of flavours that come from its extended ageing period. The rich flavours of almonds and hazelnuts are balanced perfectly with a light body, a refreshing saline tang and subtle hints of caramel.


This is a very refreshing sherry that's perfect to drink chilled in the summer heat, but its flavours are very divisive with people either loving it or not being able to drink it. The smooth finish with salty notes does stand up to most dishes, though, as well as being suitable for drinking on its own.  

No.9

Waitrose
No.1 Palo Cortado Sherry

No.1 Palo Cortado Sherry 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£11.99
Mid
Reference price
£11.99
Mid

The Taste of Andalusia's Historic Sherry Region

This superb Palo Cortado is blended by working closely with the sherry producer in the heart of Andalusia's historic sherry region. Typical of the style, this sherry lies somewhere between an Oloroso and an Amontillado by combining the aromatic flavours of baked orange and roasted hazelnuts.


While this is a very popular choice and has plenty of fans, it sits firmly on the border of dry and medium so it may not suit all palates. The labelling could also be improved with more specific information about the producer and the grape varieties. 

No.10

Asda
Amontillado Sherry

Reference price
£7.35
Low
Reference price
£7.35
Low

A Cheap Option With a Distinctive Nutty Nose and Hints of Dry Fruit

This medium dry sherry hails from Jerez de la Frontera, with its humid climate and salty Atlantic air. The sherry itself is light amber in colour, and it has a distinctive nutty nose with hints of dry fruit. It is delicious paired with pâtés, nuts and cheeses or ideal as an aperitif.


The reason we've marked this down is that while it is described as being an Amontillado sherry, the description on the bottle only states it is "medium dry", making its origins ambiguous. However, this sherry is really easy to enjoy and it is also very attractively priced which may appeal to total sherry newbies.

A Short Introduction to Sherry

A Short Introduction to Sherry

As one of the oldest wines in the world, sherry has been shipped to the UK and enjoyed by many for centuries. It is made in the far south of Spain where extreme summer heat is tempered by cooling breezes from the Atlantic; this plus the yeast and barrel-ageing process result in many complex-tasting wines. 


All sherry is from the recognised DO (Denominacion de Origin) of Jerez y Sanlúcar de Barrameda on the west coast of Andalusia and is made only from the Palomino, Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez green grape varieties. Similar to Champagne and Stilton, anything produced out of this area is not legally allowed to be called "sherry".


The nutty, earthy and sometimes savoury notes of dry sherries are a far cry from the sweet and creamy sherries we know from our childhoods. They make an excellent aperitif and complement a wide range of flavours in the dishes you cook. 

Summary

That concludes this listing of our recommended dry sherries. We hope you now feel confident in choosing the perfect bottle to try and that you've learned enough to impress your friends on the differences between Manzanilla and Palo Cortado. Salud! 


Author: Catherine Torrance

Top 5 Dry Sherry

No. 1: Williams & Humbert12 Year Old Oloroso

No. 2: ApostolesPalo Cortado Muy Viejo

No. 3: Tio PepePalomino Fino Sherry

No. 4: HidalogoLa Gitana Manzanilla

No. 5: WaitroseFino Sherry

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