This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about Spirit of Birmingham
Brian's Malt Musings : Drams and Distilleries - my opinions since 2017!
Showing posts with label Newer Distilleries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newer Distilleries. Show all posts
Monday, 13 January 2025
Saturday, 9 November 2024
Newer Distilleries: Lancaster Spirits Co
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about Lancaster Spirits Co.
Sunday, 14 April 2024
Newer Distilleries : Ballindalloch
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about Ballindalloch Distillery.
Thursday, 4 January 2024
Newer Distilleries : Manx
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about @ManxMaltWhisky Company on the Isle of Man!
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Tuesday, 19 December 2023
Newer Distilleries : Isle of Harris
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about @harrisdistiller.
Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Newer Distilleries : Bonnington
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Bonnington Distillery
Friday, 11 November 2022
Newer Distilleries : Weetwood
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Weetwood Distillery.
Thursday, 10 March 2022
Newer Distilleries : Lochlea
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about @LochleaWhisky.
Friday, 4 March 2022
Newer Distilleries : Henstone
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Henstone Distillery.
Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Newer Distilleries : Bankhall
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Bankhall Distillery in Blackpool.
Thursday, 21 October 2021
Newer Distilleries : Clydeside
This is the latest in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Clydeside Distillery.
Friday, 25 June 2021
Newer Distilleries 10 : Raasay
This is the tenth in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Isle of Raasay Distillery.
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Newer Distilleries 9 : Daftmill
This is the ninth in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Daftmill Distillery.
Sunday, 3 November 2019
Newer Distilleries 8 : Spirit of Yorkshire
This is the eighth in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Spirit Of Yorkshire Distillery.
Friday, 16 August 2019
Newer distilleries 7 : Forgan
This is the seventh in an occasional series about newer distilleries, and is all about one you may not have heard of - one of England's smaller distilleries Forgan.
They distil Gin, Rum and Corn Whisky, I first tried their Corn Whisky in a BlindTasting and we were all very impressed!
Saturday, 11 May 2019
Newer Distilleries 6 : Kingsbarns
This is the sixth in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Kingsbarns Distillery
Thursday, 28 September 2017
Newer Distilleries 5 : Cotswolds
This is the fifth in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Cotswolds Distillery
Location
The Cotswolds Distillery is located in Stourton.
The Cotswolds Distillery is located in Stourton.
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| Photo: http://bittenoxford.co.uk |
History
The Cotswolds Distillery was build during 2014 by Daniel Szor, a former hedge fund manager born in New York who left a 30-year career in finance to follow his dream, he renovated an old barn to produce a pretty little distillery in the heart of the Cotswolds.
The Pot Stills came from Forsyths in Moray, production began on the 5th September 2014, and the first cask of single malt whisky filled on the 22nd September.
Production Process
The distillery uses Cotswolds-grown, floor-malted barley from Warminster, Britain’s oldest working maltings. It's bagged in pre-weighed batches negating the need for any malt storage bins. Like Bruichladdich they intent to display source farm (local) and barley variety on each bottle.
They have half tonne mash tun where the grist is mixed with water. Fermentation of the 2,500 litres of wort is in one of eight steel wash backs for around 90 hours, considerably longer than most distilleries.
Distillation takes place in Mary their 2, 500 litre copper pot wash still, then Janis their 1,600 litre spirit still gets to work!
The new make spirit is diluted from 75% to 63.5% and casked to be matured offsite, due to being in an area of outstanding natural beauty, at a warehouse in Liverpool. They are using a variety of different oak casks including ex-bourbon, sherry butts and STR barrels, as well as some more fancy rum, apple brandy and Moscatel casks!
Whisky
Their first whiskies will mature on 7th October 2017, they plan to bottle Non Chillfiltered and Naturally Coloured at 46%. Advertised tasting notes are : "On the nose, honey and butterscotch, layered with light fruits (peaches, apricots) and a hint of marzipan. The palate is rich with malt, oils and dark sugar. Spice and caramelised bitter orange lead into a long, resinous finish with dark red fruits and a hint of treacle."
Website
Link to the distillery website
Video
Promo video
Visit
Opening Hours and Tour Times:
Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays from 11am to 4pm
Tours run every day at 11am, 1pm and 3pm - always a good idea to book in advance!
Contact
email : info@cotswoldsdistillery.com
phone : +44 1608 238 533
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| Photo: Cotswolds Distillery |
The Pot Stills came from Forsyths in Moray, production began on the 5th September 2014, and the first cask of single malt whisky filled on the 22nd September.
Production Process
The distillery uses Cotswolds-grown, floor-malted barley from Warminster, Britain’s oldest working maltings. It's bagged in pre-weighed batches negating the need for any malt storage bins. Like Bruichladdich they intent to display source farm (local) and barley variety on each bottle.
They have half tonne mash tun where the grist is mixed with water. Fermentation of the 2,500 litres of wort is in one of eight steel wash backs for around 90 hours, considerably longer than most distilleries.
Distillation takes place in Mary their 2, 500 litre copper pot wash still, then Janis their 1,600 litre spirit still gets to work!
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| Photo: Cotswolds Distillery |
The new make spirit is diluted from 75% to 63.5% and casked to be matured offsite, due to being in an area of outstanding natural beauty, at a warehouse in Liverpool. They are using a variety of different oak casks including ex-bourbon, sherry butts and STR barrels, as well as some more fancy rum, apple brandy and Moscatel casks!
 |
| Photo: Cotswolds Distillery |
Whisky
Their first whiskies will mature on 7th October 2017, they plan to bottle Non Chillfiltered and Naturally Coloured at 46%. Advertised tasting notes are : "On the nose, honey and butterscotch, layered with light fruits (peaches, apricots) and a hint of marzipan. The palate is rich with malt, oils and dark sugar. Spice and caramelised bitter orange lead into a long, resinous finish with dark red fruits and a hint of treacle."
Website
Link to the distillery website
Video
Promo video
Visit
Opening Hours and Tour Times:
Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays from 11am to 4pm
Tours run every day at 11am, 1pm and 3pm - always a good idea to book in advance!
Contact
email : info@cotswoldsdistillery.com
phone : +44 1608 238 533
Sunday, 20 August 2017
#GBMM2017 The Lakes Distillery
On Saturday 12th August Maltman Mike organised and ran a little whisky tasting shindig at the House Of Malt in Carlisle #GBMM2017! You can read the introduction here!
This is also my fourth in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Lakes Distillery.
Chris Pateman from The Lakes Distillery came to tell us all about the their distillery and brought a few bottles and a surprise!
Location
The Lakes Distillery is located near Bassenthwaite in Cumbria.
History
Building work at the distillery started in April 2013 renovating an old dairy farm which had stood empty for 20 years It was founded by Paul Currie who along with his father set up the Arran Distillery.
The distillery opened in November 2014, with spirit flowing on the 16th December.
I didn't try any of these on the night, busy preparing for my Wolfburn presentation which was coming next, so have used the distilleries own tasting notes.
Whisky : The One (NAS)
As a surprise Chris also brought a bottle of freshly drawn bourbon cash matured 2½ year old spirit which still had bits of a cask charring in it - this one I did try!
When left for a few minutes, to allow the spirit to settle, small samples were poured to try.
The 61.2% spirit had huge vanilla notes on the nose with citrus and malt on the palate - promising!
I can't wait for Lakes to release their first whisky - probably towards the end of this year or early next year. That may be slightly too young, but if they can match what Wolfburn have done it will be good. Early signs are, as I've said, promising and as a well known Irish drinks company say "Good things come to those who wait!"
Back to the #GBMM2017 introduction!
This is also my fourth in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Lakes Distillery.
Location
The Lakes Distillery is located near Bassenthwaite in Cumbria.
History
Building work at the distillery started in April 2013 renovating an old dairy farm which had stood empty for 20 years It was founded by Paul Currie who along with his father set up the Arran Distillery.
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| The farm before renovation began |
The distillery opened in November 2014, with spirit flowing on the 16th December.
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| Beautiful gates at the distillery as it looks now |
Production Process
The distillery takes water from the River Derwent on it's journey from Borrowdale to the Irish Sea. They try to use local barley from the Scottish Borders which is malted in Yorkshire.
The twin stills (5,000 litre wash and 3,500 litre spirit) came from Archibald McMillan just outside of Edinburgh and their mashtun and washbacks from Musk in Burton upon Trent.
They plan to lay down around 700 casks per year.
They plan to lay down around 700 casks per year.
Whiskies
The first malt whisky is due to reach 3 years of maturity in December 2017, in the mean time the distillery has been making Gin and Vodka as well as a range of blends using whiskies from around the UK which they are calling the One Blend.
Chris brought three for us to try whilst bringing us up to date on news from the distillery.
Chris brought three for us to try whilst bringing us up to date on news from the distillery.
I didn't try any of these on the night, busy preparing for my Wolfburn presentation which was coming next, so have used the distilleries own tasting notes.
Whisky : The One (NAS)
Characteristics : 700ml, 40% ABV.
Price : £30
Colour : Pale Gold
Nose : Fresh fruits, treacle, light spice and gentle peat-smoke.
Palate : Honey-roasted nuts, spice, and hints of dried fruits and wood smoke
Whisky : The One PX (NAS) limited edition 5,252 bottles
Characteristics : 700ml, 40% ABV.
Price : £40
Colour : Pale Gold
Nose : Dried fruits with hints of fresh ginger, toffee, nutmeg and gentle smoke.
Palate : Smooth and creamy with notes of vanilla, sun-dried raisins, nutmeg and wood smoke.
Whisky : The One Tawny Port Finish (NAS) limited edition 3,740 bottles
Characteristics : 700ml, 40% ABV.
Price : £40
Colour : Amber
Notes : Golden syrup, sweet, nutty, hints of spice, fruit compote, slightly smoky
As a surprise Chris also brought a bottle of freshly drawn bourbon cash matured 2½ year old spirit which still had bits of a cask charring in it - this one I did try!
When left for a few minutes, to allow the spirit to settle, small samples were poured to try.
I can't wait for Lakes to release their first whisky - probably towards the end of this year or early next year. That may be slightly too young, but if they can match what Wolfburn have done it will be good. Early signs are, as I've said, promising and as a well known Irish drinks company say "Good things come to those who wait!"
Back to the #GBMM2017 introduction!
Wednesday, 16 August 2017
#GBMM2017 Cooper King Distillery & Tomatin Whisky
On Saturday 12th August Maltman Mike organised and ran a little whisky tasting shindig at the House Of Malt in Carlisle #GBMM2017! You can read the introduction here!
This is also my third in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Cooper King Distillery.
Abbie and Chris from Cooper King came over from Yorkshire to tell us all about the new distillery they are building! Obviously they didn't have anything for us to sample so Tomatin stood in with a bottle of their delicious Cask Strength!
Location
Cooper King Distillery is located in Sutton-on-the-Forest near York in North Yorkshire.
History
In 2014, a desire to leave the rat race Abbie and Chris crossed the globe to Australia, in search of sun, sand and adventure.
While living and working in Tasmania, a nearby distillery won World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, a feat never accomplished outside of Scotland or Japan. They began researching for a whisky blog for friends back home and visited a number of operational whisky distilleries. They had an incredible three months leading a bizarre double life. One day apple picking, sleeping in the boot of an estate car, eating cup-a-soup for dinner and living the true back-packer lifestyle. The next, staying in nice hotels, learning about all things whisky and meeting up with distillery owners and head distillers.
Eventually they were inspired to come home and build their own distillery! They took advice from Bill Lark, the godfather of Tasmanian whisky, and others they met on their travels.
The distillery name Cooper King comes from Chris’ great-great-grandfather Charles Cooper King, a Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Marine Artillery. They thought his adventurous spirit fitted the business perfectly. But there was a problem – they had to seek permission from the Cabinet Office to use the word ‘King’ in their company name!
Whisky : Tomatin Cask Strength (NAS)
Characteristics : 57.5% ABV, NCF, Non-coloured
Price : £50 widely available
Colour : Dark Gold
Nose : Honey and red fruit - strawberries and raspberries, the strength comes through in the nose and there is a background of sherry.
Palate : Mouth filling, oily, more honey and fruit. Quite spicy - a hint of ginger?
Finish : Drying and very spicy.
Overall : A wonderful sipping dram, would be great in front of a roaring fire but all I had was a gang of bloggers! I think we all enjoyed this one!
Link : Cask Strength
This is also my third in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Cooper King Distillery.
Abbie and Chris from Cooper King came over from Yorkshire to tell us all about the new distillery they are building! Obviously they didn't have anything for us to sample so Tomatin stood in with a bottle of their delicious Cask Strength!
Location
Cooper King Distillery is located in Sutton-on-the-Forest near York in North Yorkshire.
The distillery is being self-build on the site of an old stable block. When complete the distillery will house a production area and cask maturation warehouse, together with a rustic tasting room and well-stocked shop.
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| Photo : CooperKing |
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| Photo : CooperKing |
In 2014, a desire to leave the rat race Abbie and Chris crossed the globe to Australia, in search of sun, sand and adventure.
While living and working in Tasmania, a nearby distillery won World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, a feat never accomplished outside of Scotland or Japan. They began researching for a whisky blog for friends back home and visited a number of operational whisky distilleries. They had an incredible three months leading a bizarre double life. One day apple picking, sleeping in the boot of an estate car, eating cup-a-soup for dinner and living the true back-packer lifestyle. The next, staying in nice hotels, learning about all things whisky and meeting up with distillery owners and head distillers.
Eventually they were inspired to come home and build their own distillery! They took advice from Bill Lark, the godfather of Tasmanian whisky, and others they met on their travels.
The distillery name Cooper King comes from Chris’ great-great-grandfather Charles Cooper King, a Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Marine Artillery. They thought his adventurous spirit fitted the business perfectly. But there was a problem – they had to seek permission from the Cabinet Office to use the word ‘King’ in their company name!
Production Process
Cooper King have sourced their the custom-made 900 litre copper pot still from Tasmania and plan to use 100% Yorkshire barley combined with pure Yorkshire water in a 5-6 day fermentation period to produce a "distinctive malt spirit unlike any other in the UK".
The whisky will be matured, on site, in small 100 litre casks from "England's last Master Cooper" Alastair Simms of White Rose Cooperage locally in North Yorkshire.
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| Photo: YorkMix |
They plan to distil their first spirit around Christmas 2017 producing around 3,500 bottles per year. Interestingly as they aren't in Scotland they are not bound by Scottish Oak maturation rules - they'll be able experiment with other woods!
Cooper King Distillery is striving to be a green distillery running on 100% green energy, they will also plant a tree for every membership sold to offset carbon emissions. There are a four levels of membership through their Founder's Club offering a number of rewards to investors!
It was great to meet Abbie and Chris at the #GBMM2017 at The House of Malt and I'm really looking forward to visiting their distillery and trying their whisky when it has becomes available!
Website
Link to the distillery website
Visit
Not open yet but planning to being the new year!
Contact
email : info@cooperkingdistillery.co.uk
phone : +44 (0)1347 808232
Now obviously they didn't have any whisky for us to try, so a slightly older distillery stepped in to help! Tomatin donated a bottle of their cask Strength for us to enjoy whilst we listened to Abbie and Chris' presentation.
Characteristics : 57.5% ABV, NCF, Non-coloured
Price : £50 widely available
Colour : Dark Gold
Nose : Honey and red fruit - strawberries and raspberries, the strength comes through in the nose and there is a background of sherry.
Palate : Mouth filling, oily, more honey and fruit. Quite spicy - a hint of ginger?
Finish : Drying and very spicy.
Overall : A wonderful sipping dram, would be great in front of a roaring fire but all I had was a gang of bloggers! I think we all enjoyed this one!
Link : Cask Strength
Back to the #GBMM2017 introduction!
Monday, 7 August 2017
Newer Distilleries 2 - Ardnamurchan
This is the second in an occasional series about newer distilleries, this entry is about the Ardnamurchan Distillery.
Location
Ardnamurchan Distillery is located in Glenbeg, Ardnamurchan, Argyll in the far West of Scotland. It is Scotland's most westerly mainland distillery.
Ardnamurchan Distillery is located in Glenbeg, Ardnamurchan, Argyll in the far West of Scotland. It is Scotland's most westerly mainland distillery.
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| Beautiful location overlooking Loch Sunart Photo : CNN |
History
The Ardnamurchan Distillery was conceived in 2007, the build started in 2013 and they opened in July 2014. They have created the first distillery in the country with self-sustaining energy requirements through wood-burning boilers and hydro systems.
Production Process
The distillery has its own malting floor, using barley grown on the local estate. Water comes from local springs and the Glenmore river.
They have 4 Oak wash backs (the only Scottish distillery to use them) and 3 stainless steels ones.
They produces two styles of spirit, one peated and one unpeated. The spirit was first casked into American and European oak, ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon casks in 2014 and they are planning on leaving it until it is at least 7 years old before offering it for sale.
All whisky will be matured on site, they have a twin floor traditional dunnage warehouse, the lower level having a soil floor.
Whisky
The focus will be on single malt whisky, with no plans to sell produce to blenders. The volume of the distillery will be kept low, to ensure quality over quantity. All whiskies will probably be bottled at cask strength starting in 2021.
Website
Link to the distillery website
Video
Link to the promo video
Visit
Opening Hours and Tour Times (Easter to October)
Monday to Friday: Open 10am to 6pm; Saturday: Closed; Sunday: Open 11am to 5pm (Tours on Sunday by prior appointment)
Tours on the hour every hour – first tour 1 hour after opening, last tour 1 hour before closing - always a good idea to book in advance!
Contact
email : ardnamurchan@adelphidistillery.com
phone : +44 1972 500285
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| Photo : Adelphi Distillery Ltd |
Production Process
The distillery has its own malting floor, using barley grown on the local estate. Water comes from local springs and the Glenmore river.
They have 4 Oak wash backs (the only Scottish distillery to use them) and 3 stainless steels ones.
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| Photo : Adelphi Distillery Ltd |
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| Photo : Bluestone 98 Mark Ingram Photography |
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| Photo : Adelphi Distillery Ltd |
They produces two styles of spirit, one peated and one unpeated. The spirit was first casked into American and European oak, ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon casks in 2014 and they are planning on leaving it until it is at least 7 years old before offering it for sale.
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| Cask #1 being filled 1st August 2014, Photo : Adelphi Distillery Ltd |
All whisky will be matured on site, they have a twin floor traditional dunnage warehouse, the lower level having a soil floor.
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| Photo : Adelphi Distillery Ltd |
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| From left to right: New Make Spirit (July 2014); Spirit, 1st fill Bourbon barrel 7 ½ months old; Spirit, 1st fill Sherry hogshead (PX) 5 months old Photo : Adelphi Distillery Ltd |
Whisky
The focus will be on single malt whisky, with no plans to sell produce to blenders. The volume of the distillery will be kept low, to ensure quality over quantity. All whiskies will probably be bottled at cask strength starting in 2021.
Website
Link to the distillery website
Video
Link to the promo video
Visit
Opening Hours and Tour Times (Easter to October)
Monday to Friday: Open 10am to 6pm; Saturday: Closed; Sunday: Open 11am to 5pm (Tours on Sunday by prior appointment)
Tours on the hour every hour – first tour 1 hour after opening, last tour 1 hour before closing - always a good idea to book in advance!
Contact
email : ardnamurchan@adelphidistillery.com
phone : +44 1972 500285
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