Cotswolds Sherry Cask - 70cl/57.4%

Distillery History:
Cotswolds Distillery opened in Stourton in 2014 under Daniel Szor—the first full-scale distillery in the Cotswolds. It uses only locally grown, floor-malted barley (often Odyssey at Warminster), Anchor and Fermentis yeasts, and filtered village water. The house style is fruity new make in varied wood. Sherry Cask sits in the Cask Expressions range.

Whisky Introduction:
Spirit spends its whole life in Oloroso- and Pedro Ximénez-seasoned American and Spanish oak hogsheads and butts—not a late finish. Each yearly batch differs slightly. Bottled at 57.4% with little reduction, non-chill-filtered and naturally coloured. Official notes point to dried fruit, chocolate and spice. A young English malt on a richer, sweeter sherry path than the bourbon-cask core.

Tasting Notes:
Nosing: Brown sugar, cherry pie and roasted coffee, with fruitcake.
Palate: Viscous and rich—dark stone fruit, raisins and roasted almond.
Finish: Peppery oak spice and dried fruit, with a flicker of bitter coffee.