This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about Lancaster Spirits Co.
Location
Lancaster Spirit's Co's Distillery is located here.
History
Lancaster Brewery began brewing beer in 2005 and is part of the pub group founded in the city by Phil Simpson & Matt Jackson. The company's current venues include The Sun Hotel & Bar, The Tite & Locke, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Mill at Ulverston. They started brewing in Lansil Industrial Estate on a site which used to manufacture aircraft cockpits before moving to their current site at Lancaster Leisure Park in 2011. The site includes a large tap room the Tap & Still, which can be used for functions such as weddings!
Ten tears later they bought come stills and started distilling vodka and gin. In 2024 they build a distillery 'The whisky Room' on the side of the brewery, purchased a wash still, and in July of this year started distilling whisky.
I was invited for a tour by Chris Pateman, the Commercial Manager, in October '24
Process
Although sister companies Lancaster Spirits Co. runs as a separate entity and purchases its wash from the brewery next door. Will, the head brewer, and his team use local heritage winter malting barley Flagon, which is also used for their beers, along with a little Chocolate Malt. 25 tonnes are delivered every 6 weeks to 2 huge silos.
The distilling process normally takes a week, starting on a Thursday. The barley is milled on site using an AR2000 mill. As well as barley they plan on experimenting with wheat and rye as used in some of their beers.
The resulting wort exits through a whirlpool bowl and is piped via cooling tanks to a stainless steel fermenting vessel. This process is repeated twice, using a total of 3 tonnes of malted barley, to give 8,000 litres of wort.
20kg of liquid yeast, the brewery's own 200-year-old Lancastrian brewing strain, is added and the liquid left to ferment over the weekend.
The resulting wash comes out at around 10% ABV, higher than a lot of Scottish distilleries. The wash is distilled in 2,000 litre batches over the next 4 days, this means the fermentation time is between 96 and 168 hours.
Their steam powered German 3,000 litre steel / copper wash still takes around 5 hours to create 500 litres of 38% low wines, cooled in a stainless steel condenser with a lovely little 'spirit safe'.
The low wines are then distilled in their copper spirit still in the brewery tap, the Tap & Still, (the same one which is used for their gin and vodka) coming out at c74% ABV
Around 1,200 litres of New Make Spirit is produced and filled into ex Bourbon, STR, ex Wine and seasoned sherry and port casks of different sizes. The cross over with maturing or finishing in beer casks is also on the cards!
I was invited to fill a cask!
2024 English Malt cask #58
In the 12 weeks they have been distilling they've filled nearly 60 casks and aim to fill around 300 per year. Casks are currently stored in The Whisky Room but there are plans to build another warehouse at the rear of the distillery.
They have a separate numbering sequence for 'Customer Casks' of which there is a limited number available from the distillery's website. I'm sure a good spreadsheet is needed here!
The Whisky Room also has a great little tasting nook which will be used for events and tours.
I got to try their New Make Spirit - a delicate fruity number and an 8 weeks old Virgin Oak sample.
As well as selling casks the distillery has a range of memberships available which include a 50cl bottle of NMS and between 5 and 10 bottles of whisky each year:
Founders Reserve Whisky Club Discovery Membership - Includes 1 x 50cl bottle of NWS, a branded Glencairn and other benefits - £95
Founders Reserve Whisky Club Gold Membership - Includes 1 x 70cl bottle per year for 5 years - £595
Founders Reserve Whisky Club - Platinum Membership - Includes 1 x 70cl bottle per year for 10 years - £995
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