Copper Rivet Masthouse Column Malt

Copper Rivet @rivetdistillery is one of the new wave of English distilleries and, until recently, not one I'd heard of. 

They've been distilling since 2016 offering Gin, Vodka and now Whisky. Let's see what the whisky is like.....

Copper Rivet distillery is located in an old Victorian Pump House in Chatham Dockyard in Kent. The Russell family started planning in 2005 but didn't start building the distillery until 2015 and distilling in 2016.

They use Kentish grain, grown in fields within 20 miles of the distillery, distilled in a combination of three stills - a 2000 litre wash still for whisky, a 10m column vodka still and a Banik gin still.

They have released two whiskies to date under the Masthouse brand. A standard whisky and a Column Still Malt Whisky which is what I've trying here.

Fermented for seven days, the wash was distilled slowly in a pot still and then for a second time in the 10m tall, 40 plate column still, designed and made by the Copper Rivet team. The whisky was aged for three years in seven ex-Bourbon casks before being married for six weeks before bottling.

 

Distillery notes: This whisky takes inspiration from the great Japanese and American distilleries and uses our unique column still to create a wonderfully smooth, easy drinking whisky where flavour characteristics blend in harmonious perfection. In accordance with the Invicta Whisky Charter ®  Masthouse Whisky is a rare single estate whisky which is natural, unfiltered and strikes the perfect balance of rich complexity and approachability. Masthouse Whisky is made with specially grown Kentish grain, and is a beguiling spirit inspired by the ancient craft of ship mast-making at Chatham's Royal Dockyard, where it is distilled. 

Tasting notes: Vanilla mousse with candied zest, toffee apple and light oak shavings on the nose and, on the palate, lingering sweet cream with dried plantain, fresh cut pear and a nutty, peppery finish.

My thoughts:

Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, take a while to bead up and fall as slow thin legs.

 

Nose: Vanilla custard and orchard fruit with hints of sawdust and furniture polish. Apples, pears and peaches stewed with a little custard. A little time and air offers crème brûlée and a little spearmint.

Palate: Smooth creamy arrival, sweet honey, orchard fruit and a hint of peppery spice. The apples, pears and peaches from the nose are back, there's some grass cuttings, herbal / floral notes and some spiced honey. A little time and air offers some citrus and nutty fudge notes.

Finish: Lingering peppery spice and orchard fruit.

Thoughts: It's an easy drinker, reminiscent of a ex-bourbon Speysider. I was expecting the column still distillation to make a difference - give it a more grain like note like the Loch Lomond column still releases but it doesn't - you'd easily think this was a standard pot still whisky. It's only 3 years old but again I don't think that comes across - it could easily be much older.

Many thanks to @WhiskyPioneer for the sample, this is part of their new subscription service.