Out today!!
It’s always exciting when a distillery releases a new core release. It symbolises the main team’s satisfaction with the flavours that they are able to create and a recipe that they can produce time and time again.
Today’s “Bourbon Barrel” release is just the second core release to be named by the White Peak distillery, and sits alongside their Caduro release (see notes here).
For all the finishes and experimentation that the distillery has released in its relatively short time, this is the first time that we are able to taste the influence of their base spirit matured in just bourbon barrels on their own. It puts their house style spirit front and centre.
“Wire Works Bourbon Barrel has been assembled from a parcel of their oldest first-fill American oak Bourbon barrels. Each of which was filled with their lightly peated spirit”
The initial batch of Bourbon Barrel consists of 3,178 bottles and is bottled at a very generous 53.4% ABV. As with all Wire Works whiskies, the whisky is presented at its natural colour and without chill filtration. Each 70cl is available at an RRP of £65.00 GBP.
Nose
After the initial zip of alcohol, there is a soft and sweet arrival of vanilla, cream, barley sugars, butterscotch, and malted milk biscuits. Its all sweetness and light, but tempered with a tangy grapefruit and bitter lemon note sitting well with the gentle peat note.
Taste
A silky soft, almost oily, arrival delivers an initial vanilla pod, sweet banana, and a slight citrus flavour. There’s a zesty, almost tangy grapefruit flavour sitting with that citrus note too. As it sits in the tongue the strength of the alcohol and the oak barrel influences start to steadily build the oak spice profile. A touch of salinity to it too.
Finish
Once the oak spice calms there’s a lasting combo of flavours that remind me of apple and cinnamon pastries with custard.
Verdict
If the White Peak were concerned about a bourbon-only maturation being a bit dull or uneventful, then they needn’t have worried. There’s plenty enough going on here and it’s been
In fact, with them only now releasing a bourbon-only matured whisky and to have led with a bourbon and STR red-wine cask combo as their first main outing after a couple of years of production screams volumes. Rather than just getting something to 3 years and out-the-door says a lot about their integrity and search for flavour.
For someone who has been following them closely, it’s great to taste a more aged version of what their whisky portfolio is readily built upon. The distillery’s own character of soft fruits, gentle peat, and oak spices are all present.
Overall, an enjoyable whisky and a testament to their preferred recipe and ingredients.
M
Sample disclosure: This sample was received as part of a Wire Works Tweet Tasting event run by The Whisky Wire using #WireWorksWhisky. All notes are intended as an honest, fair, and independent review of the whisky, and not as a promotion. Please drink responsibly. Please drink wisely.
whisky unplugged 
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