Over the past decade the rise of craft and artisan distilling in the UK has been nothing wanting exceptional. The gin increase led the way in which, however regardless of that bubble bursting, different spirit types have adopted.
From whisky and rum to brandy and vodka, we take a look at eight of the most effective and most awarded manufacturers that the UK has to supply.
Bimber
Bimber Whisky The First Launch
No new distillery within the UK has fairly captured the general public creativeness like Bimber. Every new batch of its single malt whisky sells out in minutes, with many reappearing on whisky public sale websites at vastly inflated costs.
The rarity and small batch or single cask nature of the model’s releases has created curiosity, desirability and large demand.
Bimber, which interprets as ‘moonshine’ from Polish, is situated in west London with all barley coming from a particular farm in Hampshire. The distillery produces simply 4 barrels of spirit per week and follows conventional whisky-making practices.
The primary whisky was launched in 2019 and has not too long ago been joined by a peated malt in late 2022.
Shop now at The Whisky Exchange
Boatyard
Boatyard Double Gin
Housed in an outdated boat shed on the shores of Lough Erne in Northern Eire’s County Fermanagh is the award-winning Boatyard distillery.
When based in 2013, it was Fermanagh’s first authorized distillery since 1890. It additionally grew to become the primary distillery in Eire to be B-Corp licensed in early 2023. The aim was easy: to make a gin for the right martini.
Boatyard is a farm-to-bottle operation and makes use of solely natural barley grown within the native space. The vary centres across the Double Gin. This sees the spirit uncovered to juniper berries twice throughout distillation: as soon as straight within the nonetheless and once more in a particular vessel the spirit vapour passes by earlier than condensation.
Count on an enormous juniper hit and zesty lemon twist.
Burnt Religion
Burnt Religion Brandy
While you consider brandy you possibly consider the well-known French areas of Cognac, Armagnac or Calvados. However north-east London? The founders’ mission is to unlock the potential of brandy with not one of the restrictions and legal guidelines imposed elsewhere. A part of that is to make use of unorthodox grape varieties and wooden varieties to create complexity of flavour.
Burnt Religion is the UK’s first professional brandy home. It distils and blends its personal brandies utilizing conventional Charentais stills – the double distillation is lengthy at 12 hours for the primary run and 14 hours for the second.
Sizzling off the press is Burnt Religion Brandy Batch 001. Count on notes of orange peel, caramel, raisin, milk chocolate and cherry.
Eight Lands
Eight Lands Natural Speyside Vodka
Nestled within the coronary heart of Scotland’s Speyside area is the Glenrinnes distillery, house of Eight Lands. The realm is house to over 50 Scotch single malt distilleries however Eight Lands bucks that development. There isn’t a whisky in sight. The identify refers to the truth that you possibly can see eight counties when stood on the prime of close by hill, Ben Rinnes.
The family-owned and natural model has diverted its full consideration to the manufacturing of gin and vodka. The award-winning Natural Gin is juniper heavy and options a number of botanicals, two of that are foraged from the household property: wild sorrel and cowberry.
The Natural Vodka in the meantime is deliciously candy, creamy and stuffed with flavour. Very good.
Lochlea
Lochlea Our Barley Single Malt
Lochlea sits within the rolling Ayrshire countryside of the Scottish Lowlands and is among the most talked about new whisky distilleries. Based in 2017, all barley utilized in manufacturing is grown and harvested on the farm the place the distillery is constructed. This farm was as soon as owned and operated by none aside from Robert Burns, the well-known Scottish poet.
Lochlea’s first single malt was launched in early 2022 and the model has already snaffled some vital awards from international spirit competitions. Its core product is Our Barley, which is joined by a number of small batch, single cask or cask power editions.
Count on a typical Lowland whisky model with notes of barley sugar, malty biscuits, dried grass and vanilla.
Storywood
Storywood Tequila 14 Years
A little bit of a curve ball for our record as Storywood is born out of two international locations – Mexico and Scotland. This premium barrel-aged tequila is a mixture of the 2 cultures.
The tequila is distilled, matured and sourced within the Jalisco area of Mexico, as all tequila should legally be, earlier than being transferred to Scotland and matured additional in ex-Scotch whisky casks.
Most tequila is aged in ex-bourbon barrels so the founding father of Storywood needed to push the boundaries and broaden the flavour profile. Through the use of ex-sherry casks which have beforehand held Scotch whisky, he has achieved this.
Strive the Speyside 14 Añejo, which has 14 months resting in such casks. It’s earthy, nutty, oaky and fruity – excellent for sipping neat.
Talonmore
Talonmore Non-Alcoholic Spirit
Edinburgh’s Talonmore is a family-run model that produces another alcohol-free spirit that replicates the look, really feel and style of a daily darkish spirit.
Based in 2020, the beverage is brewed relatively than distilled and makes use of root- and plant-based substances, together with contemporary rosemary and bitter oranges, to create its advanced set of flavours.
The founders needed to create one thing totally different in the non-alcoholic category which they felt was stuffed with uninspiring, typically candy, and unhealthy choices.
Talanmore is designed to be sipped neat, on the rocks or combined in an alcohol-free cocktail. Why not attempt it in a highball? Pour some right into a tall glass over ice, prime with tonic water and garnish with citrus peel.
Two Drifters
Two Drifters Overproof Spiced Pineapple Rum
Two Drifters is an award-winning rum distillery close to Exeter airport in Devon. The founders, a husband and spouse group impressed by tasting rum on their honeymoon in St.Lucia, have two objectives: to point out that British-made rum can compete with the most effective rums on this planet; and to point out that it may be accomplished with out impacting the planet.
The distillery is operated on 100% renewable power and all packaging is recyclable and carbon impartial. Every part is completed in home – fermentation of molasses, distilling, ageing in casks, bottling, labelling, and transport.
Its vary options the Signature Rum, Pure White, Frivolously Spiced and the gorgeous Overproof Spiced Pineapple – sip this one over ice for an actual deal with.
