Thanks, Shane. I've never yet had an English whisky, it just seems there's always something more "urgent" from Scotland higher up on the shopping list . Which leads me to the honest question: who are English whisky makers marketing to? Patriots, local tourists, buyers of quirky things, whisky nerds? I find myself little attracted to German whisky over here, a lot of it tastes like what the distillery usually makes (fruit spirits or "Korn"), others are drowned in cask flavor and then there's (apparently) really good ones that are inevitably way more expensive than comparable Scottish craft whiskies. With India / Taiwan I'm getting a definable alternative style (tropical maturation), with Ireland there's "pot still" but there's no narrative for German whisky except "it's hip and we wanted to try it." Don't know how that has worked in England. Is there even a substantial point to the moniker "English whisky" or isn't it just "craft whisky distilleries south of the Scottish border"? But then a name like "English Whisky company" or putting an iconic landscape such as "Cotswold" in your name is, after all, a statement. Questions, questions...
Lots of very good points. I think there are identifiable similarities amongst some English distilleries but yes it's essentially 'Whisky made in England' as you'd expect. I don't think that's all too surprising though, even in Scotland I'd argue that the Lowlands are the only geographical area that comes close to a unified style. Finding good English whisky can take a bit of work. There are some that are just putting out cask juice like your German distilleries. There's another distillery near me who I won't name who insist on using a lot of new French oak and a beer stripper. I haven't enjoyed anything I've tried from them. Generally though, English Whisky distilleries are very small scale, quality focused operations. And now that many of them have been around long enough to put out 10-15yo whisky that's going to give some of them an edge over Scotch. If that translates to more sales then it will be interesting to see how they handle that with almost all of them being extremely small. Cotswolds have already expanded dramatically with much larger stills. Time will tell if that is the right move. I hate the rebrand to 'The English' and English Whisky Company by the way. They're obviously trying to define themselves as THE name in English Whisky but it's just painful when nobody knows if you're talking about the distillery or the region 😣
I’m curious about maturation as well after your description of being so bourbon like. I like your guess of previously holding grain whiskey & possibly for a shorter time to leave more barrel character intact. I’m starting to realize now after expanding into all whiskey categories & aged tequila as well how neutral corn & wheat are. I think you could almost call bourbon “charred American white oak tea” or “barrel flavored alcohol” & not be far off. Awesome review as always. Even if it’s a bottle I can’t get my hands on these reviews are packed with larger ideas within the community. Really appreciate you sir🙏
Pleasant is good, lots of oak, but not over-oaked. Very interesting dialogue on cask. For me, it is just confusing to say "virgin" and "Re-fill" in the same sentence describing the same cask. Cheers!
Confusing indeed! I think I can see what they were trying to say but I'm not sure it was conveyed totally clearly. Probably why they kept the fact that the casks were refill on the back label and just stated virgin oak on the front... It also makes you wonder how many other distilleries are calling casks 'virgin' when they've been used before 🤔 That would explain why some virgin oak maturations can be relatively long without being over oaked... Cheers 🥃
Very interesting review Shane! I admit I’d go for the peated expression first!! I think I’m becoming a bigger peat head! I would definitely try this English whisky! Hey I’d love to see a review on your infinity bottle. I guess for an ultra small batch, single cast, this price is the norm. It’s getting insane. Cheers! 🍻
Thanks Christine. If you see the Sherry Butts expression with the purple label and white box that's very good! The later batches of the 11yo are nice too. The prices of these red range releases may seem high to some but they're actually not for what goes into them, as you say. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock I will absolutely keep an eye out for the Sherry Butts expression and a later batch of the 11yo! Exciting Shane! Have a fabulous day!! Cheers!! 🙂
This sounds like it could sound like an interesting one but ends up feeling like a bourbon 😂. Ah man it gets so tiring not getting anywhere with your questions to distilleries. I now think if they don't put it on the bottle or box or even website you're not going to know what it is you want to know. Cheers mate 🥃
Yeah 😂 to be fair it's more interesting than many virgin oak whiskies - a credit to EWC. But the price 😬 there are better red range expressions than this. Have a great weekend. Cheers 🥃
18 minutes and 21 seconds of a review, and I’m stuck on the 3 seconds you mentioned your infinity bottle - requesting a special video on that one, please!
I think doublespeak terms like refill virgin oak should be shamed into utter oblivion. It's like real fake leather. Though "refill virgin" does sound like a fun euphemism.
@@WhiskyLock Agreed; the term "malt whisky" in itself is even unnecessarily confusing. I wish they had just called it malted barley whisky, but that's centuries of tradition that's never going to be undone.
We don't get much of the English whisky company's products in nyc. But i found a shop that sells the classic cask strength for $85. Not sure if that's a good value and does it taste good?
Is it an old one with St George fighting the dragon on front? If so I'd say it's fine but you'd be better off getting one of the newer Small Batch releases or newer Cask Strength offerings under The English branding if possible. Cheers 🥃
Thanks, Shane. I've never yet had an English whisky, it just seems there's always something more "urgent" from Scotland higher up on the shopping list . Which leads me to the honest question: who are English whisky makers marketing to? Patriots, local tourists, buyers of quirky things, whisky nerds? I find myself little attracted to German whisky over here, a lot of it tastes like what the distillery usually makes (fruit spirits or "Korn"), others are drowned in cask flavor and then there's (apparently) really good ones that are inevitably way more expensive than comparable Scottish craft whiskies. With India / Taiwan I'm getting a definable alternative style (tropical maturation), with Ireland there's "pot still" but there's no narrative for German whisky except "it's hip and we wanted to try it." Don't know how that has worked in England. Is there even a substantial point to the moniker "English whisky" or isn't it just "craft whisky distilleries south of the Scottish border"? But then a name like "English Whisky company" or putting an iconic landscape such as "Cotswold" in your name is, after all, a statement. Questions, questions...
Lots of very good points. I think there are identifiable similarities amongst some English distilleries but yes it's essentially 'Whisky made in England' as you'd expect. I don't think that's all too surprising though, even in Scotland I'd argue that the Lowlands are the only geographical area that comes close to a unified style.
Finding good English whisky can take a bit of work. There are some that are just putting out cask juice like your German distilleries. There's another distillery near me who I won't name who insist on using a lot of new French oak and a beer stripper. I haven't enjoyed anything I've tried from them. Generally though, English Whisky distilleries are very small scale, quality focused operations. And now that many of them have been around long enough to put out 10-15yo whisky that's going to give some of them an edge over Scotch.
If that translates to more sales then it will be interesting to see how they handle that with almost all of them being extremely small. Cotswolds have already expanded dramatically with much larger stills. Time will tell if that is the right move.
I hate the rebrand to 'The English' and English Whisky Company by the way. They're obviously trying to define themselves as THE name in English Whisky but it's just painful when nobody knows if you're talking about the distillery or the region 😣
I’m curious about maturation as well after your description of being so bourbon like. I like your guess of previously holding grain whiskey & possibly for a shorter time to leave more barrel character intact. I’m starting to realize now after expanding into all whiskey categories & aged tequila as well how neutral corn & wheat are. I think you could almost call bourbon “charred American white oak tea” or “barrel flavored alcohol” & not be far off. Awesome review as always. Even if it’s a bottle I can’t get my hands on these reviews are packed with larger ideas within the community. Really appreciate you sir🙏
Branching out into other spirits is very worthwhile. Very important 👍 Thank you very much 🙏🥃
Pleasant is good, lots of oak, but not over-oaked. Very interesting dialogue on cask. For me, it is just confusing to say "virgin" and "Re-fill" in the same sentence describing the same cask. Cheers!
Confusing indeed! I think I can see what they were trying to say but I'm not sure it was conveyed totally clearly. Probably why they kept the fact that the casks were refill on the back label and just stated virgin oak on the front...
It also makes you wonder how many other distilleries are calling casks 'virgin' when they've been used before 🤔 That would explain why some virgin oak maturations can be relatively long without being over oaked... Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Definately wonder
Very interesting review Shane! I admit I’d go for the peated expression first!! I think I’m becoming a bigger peat head! I would definitely try this English whisky! Hey I’d love to see a review on your infinity bottle. I guess for an ultra small batch, single cast, this price is the norm. It’s getting insane. Cheers! 🍻
Thanks Christine. If you see the Sherry Butts expression with the purple label and white box that's very good! The later batches of the 11yo are nice too.
The prices of these red range releases may seem high to some but they're actually not for what goes into them, as you say. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLock I will absolutely keep an eye out for the Sherry Butts expression and a later batch of the 11yo! Exciting Shane! Have a fabulous day!! Cheers!! 🙂
Refill virgin oak?! Your explanation makes good sense Shane!!
It's the only sensible explanation I could find 😂
@@WhiskyLock 🙂
This sounds like it could sound like an interesting one but ends up feeling like a bourbon 😂. Ah man it gets so tiring not getting anywhere with your questions to distilleries. I now think if they don't put it on the bottle or box or even website you're not going to know what it is you want to know. Cheers mate 🥃
Yeah 😂 to be fair it's more interesting than many virgin oak whiskies - a credit to EWC. But the price 😬 there are better red range expressions than this. Have a great weekend. Cheers 🥃
18 minutes and 21 seconds of a review, and I’m stuck on the 3 seconds you mentioned your infinity bottle - requesting a special video on that one, please!
Great idea!
I shall see what I can do 🙂
@@WhiskyLock 🙂
😊👍🥃
I need teasting this whisky )))))
I think doublespeak terms like refill virgin oak should be shamed into utter oblivion. It's like real fake leather. Though "refill virgin" does sound like a fun euphemism.
Fun euphemism indeed! On a more serious note it highlights how vague a lot of the descriptions are that we use for whisky.
@@WhiskyLock Agreed; the term "malt whisky" in itself is even unnecessarily confusing. I wish they had just called it malted barley whisky, but that's centuries of tradition that's never going to be undone.
First like , first comment ))) Slainte !
Cheers buddy 🥃
We don't get much of the English whisky company's products in nyc. But i found a shop that sells the classic cask strength for $85. Not sure if that's a good value and does it taste good?
Is it an old one with St George fighting the dragon on front? If so I'd say it's fine but you'd be better off getting one of the newer Small Batch releases or newer Cask Strength offerings under The English branding if possible. Cheers 🥃
@@WhiskyLockThanks and yes its an old bottling with st George fighting a dragon.