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Sampling Cotswolds Distillery New ‘Reserve Single Malt Whisky’ – Most Approachable!

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The Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky!

The Cotswolds Distillery is delighted to announce the launch of a new addition to their range of award-winning whiskies – Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky!

“We think it’s one of the most approachable whiskies we’ve ever produced at the distillery”

Our new single malt whisky expression joins our growing range of English single malt whiskies. We’re excited to launch this smooth and elegant Reserve whisky which has been aged in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks and STR (Shaved, Toasted & Re-charred) ex-red wine casks.

We think it’s one of the most approachable whiskies we’ve ever produced at the distillery.
– Dan Szor: Cotswolds Distillery Founder

Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky is made from 100% locally grown floor malted barley and is aged in specially selected first-fill ex-Bourbon and STR (Shaved, Toasted & Re-charred) ex-red wine casks at a ratio of 80:20 – 80% Bourbon and 20% STR.

This expression showcases the influence of the the first-fill ex-Bourbon casks which provide classic notes of vanilla, honey, butterscotch and a hint of coconut, resulting in a smooth, elegant and well-balanced dram.

A touch of whisky from the STR (Shaved, Toasted & Re-charred) ex-red wine casks has been blended in to enhance the richness, fruitiness and sweetness of this whisky. Bottled at 50% ABV the whisky is both naturally coloured and non-chill filtered.

£54.95 / ABV: 50%
Available to buy from cotswoldsdistillery.com

Cotswolds Distillery has kindly sent me a sample to try. Thanks cotswoldsdistillery.com (Twitter: @cotswoldistill / Instagram: @cotswoldsdistillery)!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Cotswolds Distillery Reserve Single Malt Whisky (50%)


Ingredients:

Malt: 100% locally grown, traditionally floor-malted barley from the Cotswolds.

Yeast: Two complementary varieties – Anchor and Fermentis – to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavours.

Water: Village water supply – filtered, softened and demineralised before use.

Wood: Premium first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and STR (Shaved, Toasted & Re-charred) American oak ex-red wine casks.

Nose: Crunchy green apple, sweet toffee, creamy vanilla and light floral notes – very inviting!

Palate: Very fruity with floral flavours – particularly rose – and sweet vanilla toffee.

Finish: Spicy and woody with lovely chocolate and shades of blackcurrant licorice.

Overall: A tasty, easy going, light whisky that is great to drink at anytime. I love the higher ABV – it always allows you to appreciate the flavours of the whisky in greater detail – and if it’s a tad strong for your liking – you can always add a little water!

Dan Szor, Cotswolds Distillery Founder said: “We think it’s one of the most approachable whiskies we’ve ever produced at the distillery.” – I think he’s right!

Cotswolds Distillery Products are also available to buy from these Merchants:-

Many thanks to cotswoldsdistillery.com (Twitter: @cotswoldistill / Instagram: @cotswoldsdistillery) for sending me the sample!

The Cotswolds Distillery

Located in Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, the Cotswolds Distillery has become a premier Cotswolds attraction, offering tours and tastings. The distillery and stores in Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water receive nearly 100,0000 visitors a year.

Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017. It has won Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 and was given two stars (one of one two whiskies to do so) in the 2019 Great Taste Awards. The distillery’s first cask strength whisky release, Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky, was awarded the title of Best English Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2019. In the Spring of 2021, it also won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and won a Master Title at the Drinks Business & Spirits Business Spring Blind Tasting.

Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky has expanded its UK distribution and is available in Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose stores across the UK. It was the first English whisky to be nationally listed by all three multiple grocers.

The Cotswolds Distillery also produces Cotswolds Dry Gin, which was named Best London Dry at the World Gin Awards and received the Top Gold Outstanding Award in the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Cotswolds Founder’s Choice Wins Best Whisk(e)y In Show at American Spirits Council of Tasters (ASCOT) Awards!

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Congrats To Cotswolds Distillery!

Cotswolds Distillery are delighted to announce that their Cotswolds Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky has just been awarded Best Whisk(e)y in Show at the prestigious American Spirits Council of Tasters ASCOT Awards 2021!

To my knowledge this the first time, in any major competition I have been part of, that an English Whisky has won Best in Show

This is the first time an English whiskey won a major spirits competition. Usually, Scotch, Japanese, Irish or bourbon whiskey win, with an occasional Canadian victor. What Cotswolds did is absolutely unprecedented. The best part is that you can buy this for less than $100 in the United States and 70 pounds in the UK.
– Fred Minnick: Creator of the new international spirits competition, the ASCOT Awards

Notes of toffee, oak and red fruits, and a beautiful, deep colour!

Fred Minnick is a Spirits personality and veteran tasting judge who is the host of his own Dash Radio show in America and co-founder of the Bourbon and Beyond Festival and host of Bourbon Up on Amazon Prime.

The ASCOT Awards have an extremely experienced tasting panel of 27 and the process of picking the multiple category winners was streamed live on YouTube. The transparent voting system saw Cotswolds Founder’s Choice previously winning Double Platinum and Best in Category for World Whisky, before winning Best in Show in a dramatic taste-off.

It was tasted across multiple categories against world-class spirits including Rye, Bourbon, Scottish and Irish Whisk(e)y. The five judges who made the final selection were: Fred Minnick, Lew Bryson, Max A. Solano, Clay Risen and Susan Reigler.

I am delighted that our English whisky, Founder’s Choice, has won such a prestigious award and against so many well-respected whisk(e)y brands from Scotland and the US.

The tasting panel is made up of well-respected American drink writers, mixologists and spirits educators and we are thrilled that they have chosen one of my favourite single malt whiskies from the distillery. We followed the process that was created by our mentor the late and great Dr. Jim Swan, who always believed our STR cask should have its own bottling.
– Daniel Szor: Cotswolds Distillery Founder

Cotswolds Founder’s Cask is cask strength and comes from Founder Dan’s favourite “STR” casks: shaved, toasted and re-charred American Oak red wine barriques. These uniquely active casks give a rich and intense maturation to the distillery’s fruity single malt spirit, offering notes of toffee, oak and red fruits, and a beautiful, deep colour.

£64.95 / ABV: 60.5%
Available to buy from cotswoldsdistillery.com

Cotswolds Distillery Products are available to buy from these Merchants:-

Celebrate World Cocktail Day With Cotswolds Distillery!

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Celebrate World Cocktail Day with Cotswolds Distillery!

Cotswolds Distillery are looking forward to celebrating World Cocktail Day on the 13th May and their Head of Mixology Oliver Morris has created these delicious cocktails which can be easily made at home:

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky – Cotswolds Boulevardier

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky – Cotswolds Boulevardier:
A rich and warming variation on the Negroni. A delicious marriage of honeyed malt, rich aromatics and bittersweet marmalade.

Ingredients:
45ml Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky,
30ml Sweet Vermouth,
30ml Campari

Method: Place all the ingredients into an ice filled cocktail jar. Stir and strain into an ice filled rocks glass and garnish with an orange wedge or dehydrated orange wheel

Cotswolds Dry Gin – Cotswolds Clover Leaf

Ingredients: 50ml Cotswolds Dry Gin,
15ml Fresh Lime Juice,
12.5ml Raspberry Syrup,
5 fresh raspberries,
2 mint leaves

Method: Muddle the raspberries and mint. Shake all the ingredients over ice and strain back into the shaker without ice. Dry shake and fine strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh raspberry and mint.

Cotswolds Products are available to buy from:-

Cotswolds Distillery Launches “Hearts & Crafts Pineau De Charentes Cask” Single Malt Whisky!

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Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Pineau de Charentes Cask!

Cotswolds Distillery has celebrated St George’s Day by releasing today its second Heart and Crafts expression, which is a single malt whisky aged in Pineau de Charentes casks.

Pineau de Charentes is a little-known regional specialty of the Charentes Maritime region of France, sitting north of Bordeaux and encompasses the Cognac-producing region. It is made from fresh grape juice, which is blended with Cognac and left to age in oak barrels for a number of years. The sweetness of the grape juice tempers the bite of the Cognac, which combined with dry nutty notes from European oak casks makes it a great aperitif.

There are 1,600 bottles available

Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Pineau de Charentes Cask has been aged in the white grape Pineau casks and the French oak imparts a slightly more bitter and tannic note than the American oak used by the distillery for aging their whisky.

I first started drinking Pineau on a trip to the beautiful Atlantic island of Isle de Ré, just off the cost of La Rochelle, in 1994 and I’ve always had a soft spot for it.

Hence the excitement at the idea of aging our Cotswolds single malt spirit in these casks.
– Daniel Szor: Cotswolds Distillery Founder

The whisky has been matured for its full term in the casks, and the techniques of rejuvenation and seasoning under pressure allows the distillery to get the best out of the wine and the wood. As the woodgrain is not tight, more tannins come into the spirit.

Inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement this second expression continues with a William Morris design, which is both classic and contemporary. This prolific and innovative designer was one of the leaders of the Arts and Crafts Movement, which was created in the late 19th century and stood for the importance of traditional craftsmanship, the same values upon which the beautiful rural distillery was built. William Morris spent much of his time in the summer in his Cotswolds home, Kelmscott Manor and the verdant green leaves featured on the label and luxury gift box are perfect for the lushness and vitality of spring and celebrate St George’s Day which is a highlight of spring festivities.

Tasting Notes:

Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Pineau de Charentes Cask is wonderfully indulgent. The sweet notes of this golden aperitif wine are balanced by the French oak tannins. Perfect for PX sherry fans who are looking for something different.

Nose: wonderfully rich, tonka bean, marzipan and caramelised peaches

Palate: raisins, brazil nuts, toffee, fudge and dried orange peel

Finish: warm and long finish, hints of white pepper and almonds

RRP: £74.95 ABV: 55.2% for a 700ml bottle.
Available to buy exclusively from cotswoldsdistillery.com
There are 1,600 bottles available.

Cotswolds Distillery Announces Master Distiller Achievement!

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Nick Franchino: Production Director – Cotswolds Distillery

Cotswolds Distillery is delighted to announce Production Director, Nickolas Franchino, has been awarded the prestigious title of Master Distiller by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD)!

The IBD Master Distiller qualification is the world’s highest level of recognition in the technical management of the distilling production process, through a combination of knowledge and experience and is the culmination of many years of learning and putting science into action.

Cotswolds Distillery produces the award-winning Cotswolds Dry Gin & Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky

This is an incredible achievement and we are incredibly proud of Nick’s hard work and dedication over several years of gruelling study to achieve the pinnacle of professional distilling qualifications.
– Daniel Szor: Cotswolds Distillery Founder

Nick has been involved with the development of The Cotswolds Distillery since its inception by Daniel Szor, whom he met at an IBD-led distilling course in Edinburgh. His interest in artisan spirits was piqued at an early age when tasting his Italian relatives’ homemade liqueurs and spirits.

I am really looking forward to continuing with my distilling journey at Cotswolds Distillery and creating new and exciting expressions.
– Nick Franchino: Production Director – Cotswolds Distillery

Cotswolds Distillery produces the award-winning Cotswolds Dry Gin and Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky, as well as a range of other spirits.

Cotswolds Distillery Products are available to buy from these Merchants:-


Cotswolds Dry Gin: RRP: £34.95 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 46%

Available from: waitrose.co.uk, majestic.co.uk, oddbins.com, laithwaites.co.uk, harveynichols.com and cotswoldsdistillery.com

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky: RRP: £39 for 70cl bottle. ABV 46%

Available from: selected Sainsbury’s stores, waitrose.com, majestic.co.uk, thewhiskyexchange.com, laithwaites.co.uk and cotswoldsdistillery.com

Cotswolds Distillery Releases ‘Cotswolds No. 2 Whisky Amaro Liqueur’!

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Cotswolds No 2 Whisky Amaro!

The Cotswolds Distillery has released its second Amaro Whisky Liqueur expression: Cotswolds No 2 Whisky Amaro!

Available to purchase exclusively from Cotswolds Distillery!

Following on from the successful launch of Cotswolds No 1 at the beginning of the year. Cotswolds No 2 Whisky Amaro will make an excellent addition to the home bar and is the perfect after dinner digestif. Best served well-chilled on the rocks and ideal for Christmas celebrations!

The base for Cotswolds No 2 is Cotswolds Peated Cask Single Malt whisky. A selection of botanicals including chamomile, citrus and herbs are added, resulting in a complex, herbaceous liqueur with notes of spice and a slightly bitter finish.

Cotswolds Peated Cask Single Malt Whisky was awarded ‘Best World Whisky’ at the International Whisky Competition 2020. As the spirit is matured in ex-peated quarter casks the resulting whisky is wonderfully balanced, rich and fruity with subtle notes of peat smoke.

As a comparison, Cotswolds No 1 Whisky Amaro has the flagship Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky as the base with a blend of selected botanicals including vanilla, citrus and spice have been added to create a lighter Amaro liqueur with pronounced herbal and floral notes.

The perfect after dinner digestif

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Treacle tart, lapsang souchong tea, full of rich, smoky and sweet aromas.

Palate: Light smoke with sweet burnt caramel and bittersweet herbal notes

Finish: Smoke fades with a touch of caramelised peaches and long bittersweet finish.

Cotswolds No 2 Whisky Amaro RRP: £34.95 for a 500ml bottle ABV: 40% – non-chill filtered.
Available to purchase exclusively from cotswoldsdistillery.com

Celebrate Old Fashioned Week!

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Cotswolds Distillery Old Fashioned

Happy Old Fashioned Week!

Celebrate Old Fashioned Week (30th October – 8th November) with these four amazing cocktail recipes from around the world!

Delicious recipes to inspire you to get creative and have a go at creating this classic cocktail!

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky – this award winning English single malt whisky adds a twist to the classic recipe which is simplicity in a glass. With delicious notes of sweet malted barley, hints of caramel and overtones of toasted butterscotch, with a marmalade finish!

Ingredients: 60ml Cotswolds Distillery Single Malt Whisky, 10ml maple syrup and 2 dashes Aromatic Bitters

Method: dissolve the whisky and maple syrup in a cocktail jar or glass. Add ice and stir continuously for dilution. Add the bitters, more ice and stir a few more times. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass, express orange peel around the glass. Garnish with the orange peel and serve.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky: RRP: £39 for 700 ml. ABV 46%. Available from:
The Whisky Exchange

Rampur Old Fashioned (Photographed by @Mix.Mann)

Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky Golden Old Fashioned – add an Indian touch to your Old Fashioned with this stunning subtly spiced recipe created by @Mix.Mann which includes Cumin, Star Anise, Orange Peel and Demerara Sugar. The addition of Black Pepper Cardamom Bitters adds further spice.


Cumin Anise Syrup ingredients:
half teaspoon Cumin Seeds (place in palm of hand, use your other thumb to apply pressure whilst rubbing the seeds, this opens them up releasing the delicious aromas),
2 pods/points from a Star Anise,
Orange Peel from 1 x Orange (remove as much pith as possible),
200ml Water
200ml Demerara Sugar.

Method: add all the ingredients to a saucepan. Gently bring to the boil, stir occasionally and simmer for 6-7 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Strain into a clean jar to remove the spices and peels. Store in the fridge.

Rampur Golden Old Fashioned ingredients:
60ml Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky,
10ml Cumin Anise Syrup,
1 x dash Ms Betters Bitters Black Pepper Cardamom Bitters
Garnish with dehydrated orange wheel, STARLINO Maraschino Cherry and Star Anise

Method: add all the ingredients to a mixing glass half filled with ice. Stir for 30 seconds, add more ice and stir again for 30-40 seconds. Strain into a glass over a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish.

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky: RRP: £60 for a 70cl bottle 45% ABV

Available from:

The Whisky Exchange

Master of Malt

J&B Rare

J&B Rare Old Fashioned. Created in the 1930’s and distilled, blended and bottled in Scotland.

Ingredients: 50ml J&B Rare, 1 x sugar cube, 2 x dashes of Angostura Bitters and orange zest to garnish

Method: stir all the ingredients in a rocks glass, adding ice as you go along. Garnish with orange zest and STARLINO Maraschino Cherries!

J&B Rare RRP: £22.50 for a 70cl bottle. ABV 40%

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange

Master of Malt

Storywood Tequila

Storywood Tequila – why not add a twist to the cocktail and create an Old Fashioned with a whisky aged Tequila – Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo?

Ingredients: 50ml Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo, 10ml agave syrup, 2 dashes of bitters and dehydrated orange wheel.

Method: Stir half the tequila with three cubes of ice in a glass. Add agave syrup, bitters and two more ice cubes, before stirring again. Add the rest of the tequila before stirring once more. Add more ice cubes, if there is room, and garnish with a dehydrated orange wheel.

Storywood Tequila Speyside 14 Añejo. RRP: £47.45 for a 700ml bottle. ABV: 40%

Available from: amazon.co.uk and proofdrinks.com

Hotel STARLINO Maraschino Cherries

Hotel STARLINO Maraschino Cherries would add the final flourish to an Old Fashioned Cocktail. Hailing from San Gennaro, Vesuviano, close to Naples, these cherries are moreish and a delicious addition to the classic old fashioned cocktail.

Hotel STARLINO Maraschino Cherries RRP: £10 for a 400g jar and £20 for a 1kg tin

Available from:

Master of Malt

Cotswolds Distillery Launches ‘Sherry Cask’ Single Malt Whisky!

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Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky!

Adding to their award-winning collection of English Single Malt Whiskies, The Cotswolds Distillery is delighted to announce the launch of Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky!

Their latest whisky is a marriage of Cotswolds Single Malt whiskies fully matured in American and Spanish oak hogsheads and butts, seasoned with Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherries. To taste, Cotswolds Sherry Cask is full of dark stone fruits with a hint of roasted almonds, followed by peppery oak spice.

Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky is non-chill filtered, with natural colouring and has an ABV of 57.4%

The distillery uses 100% locally grown barley from the Cotswolds, which is traditionally floor-malted by hand at Warminster, Britain’s oldest working malting. The barley is mashed and fermented for over 90 hours before being distilled twice in their bespoke copper pot stills. The new make spirit is smooth, complex and fruity with only the purest ‘heart’ cut taken for cask maturation

I love a sherry cask whisky as it is one of the truly iconic single malt whisky styles. Good sherry casks give rich, fruity, spicy and nutty flavours that marry perfectly with the underlying malt character and are a joy to savour.
– Nickolas Franchino: Head of Production at Cotswolds Distillery

Each yearly batch of Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky will be unique, drawn from their finest American and Spanish oak hogsheads and butts, some seasoned with dry Oloroso sherry and others seasoned with Pedro Ximenez. Every batch has been sherry-aged throughout their full maturation which allows the whisky to develop a full and deeper flavour.


Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky is non-chill filtered, with natural colouring and has an ABV of 57.4%.

RRP: £64.95 for 700ml bottle. ABV: 57.4%

Available to purchase exclusively from Cotswolds Distillery: cotswoldsdistillery.com

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Brown sugar and cherry pie with a touch of roasted coffee beans.

Palate: Viscous and rich. Full of dark stone fruits and a hint of roasted almonds.

Finish: Peppery oak spice accompanied by notes of dried fruit.

About Cotswolds Distillery

Located in Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, the Cotswolds Distillery has become a premier Cotswolds attraction, offering tours and tastings. The distillery and stores in Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water receive nearly 100,0000 visitors a year.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017. Each bottle lists the barley variety, harvest year and local Cotswolds farm it was grown on. It has won Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 and was given two stars (one of one two whiskies to do so) in the 2019 Great Taste Awards. The distillery’s cask strength whisky release, Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky, was awarded the title of Best English Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2019.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky has expanded its UK distribution and is now available at 289 selected Sainsbury’s stores across the UK. It is the first English Whisky to be listed by Sainsbury’s.

The distillery also produces Cotswolds Dry Gin, which was named Best London Dry at the World Gin Awards and received the Top Gold Outstanding Award in the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Cotswolds Distillery Launches Cotswolds Amaro No.1 Whisky Liqueur!

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The Cotswolds Amaro Whisky Liqueurs

Cotswolds Distillery is launching the first expression from the Amaro Whisky Liqueur Collection – Cotswolds Amaro No 1!

Available to purchase exclusively from The Cotswolds Distillery from the 16th May 2020

In celebration of World Whisky Day this Saturday 16th. May 2020, The Cotswolds Distillery is delighted to announce the release of the first expression from the new range of Cotswolds Amaro Whisky Liqueurs.

Inspired by Amaro, the Italian herbal liqueur which is typically enjoyed as an after-dinner ‘digestif’, Cotswolds Distillery has created a collection of whisky liqueurs which recreate this drinking moment, The Cotswolds Amaro Whisky Liqueurs.

The first expression, Cotswolds Amaro No 1, has the flagship Cotswolds Single Malt as the base to which a blend of select botanicals including vanilla, citrus and spice have been added. The resulting liqueur is lighter with pronounced herbal and floral notes. The second expression will be launched this Autumn.

I have always loved Amaro and wanted to create Cotswolds Distillery’s own Amaro liqueur.

Launching Cotswolds Amaro No 1 on World Whisky Day seemed the perfect way to celebrate this wonderful day. The vanilla, spice and citrus complement our Single Malt Whisky and we hope our delicious digestif will become a favourite after-dinner drink.
– Daniel Szor: Cotswolds Distillery Founder

Amaro (Italian for ‘bitter’) is traditionally produced by macerating herbs, roots, flowers, bark and citrus elements in either spirit or wine (or sometimes both), before being sweetened with caramel or sugar and has a typical alcohol content of 16%-40%. It is usually bitter-sweet and is sometimes syrupy with a thick mouthfeel.

The Cotswolds Amaro Liqueur has been bottled at 40% which ensures the spices and sweetness complement the flavour coming through from the fruity whiskies.

The Cotswolds Amaro should be served well-chilled or on the rocks as an after-dinner moment, perfect for the end of a summer’s evening.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Fresh peach with bitter black tea and subtle orange citrus fruit.

Palate: Thick and creamy with vanilla and bitter marmalade, floral with a hint of spiced honey.

Finish: Slightly bitter finish, with dried fruit and a touch of maple syrup.

Cotswolds Amaro No1


RRP: £34.95 for a 500ml bottle
ABV: 40% non-chill filtered

Available to purchase exclusively from cotswoldsdistillery.com from the 16th May 2020.

Other Cotswolds products are available to buy from these Merchants:-

Sampling Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky – And Who’s For An “English Outlaw”?!

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Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky

In case you didn’t know it, it’s World Whisky Day this Saturday 16th. May 2020!

The kind people at The Cotswolds Distillery have sent me a sample of their Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky to try – just in time for WWD!

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017 and is the first whisky ever distilled in the Cotswolds. The distillery uses 100% locally grown, floor-malted barley and matures the whisky in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and reconditioned red wine casks.

The whisky is rich, fruity and sippable with notes of honey, Seville orange marmalade and dark red fruits. Each bottle lists the barley variety, harvest year and local Cotswolds farm on which it was grown.

I was looking out of the window of our old farmhouse in the Cotswolds at my neighbour’s fields of spring barley and thought ‘why hasn’t anyone made whisky here?’

The Cotswolds has every bit as much romance and history as the most beautiful parts of the Highlands or Lowlands, just in a very different way,
– Daniel Szor: Cotswolds Distillery Founder

If you feel like getting creative on World Whisky Day why not mix your own cocktail using Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky?

“The English Outlaw”, is a twist on the classic Manhattan and has a robust malty base which creates a complex and delicious cocktail:

“The English Outlaw”

Ingredients: 60ml Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky,
30ml Vermouth,
1 x bar spoon of marmalade,
1 x dash of Aromatic Bitters.

Method: Dissolve the marmalade in Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky,
add Vermouth and dash of Aromatic Bitters,
stir down with ice and fine strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with cherries; Maraschino if you have them in the cupboard!

“The English Outlaw”!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky (46%)


Nose: Wood, rich vanilla fudge, green apples, zesty lemon and hints of citrus.

Palate: Very smooth, sweet vanilla with lots of lemon and grapefruit.

Finish: Peppery spice (which starts off quite subtlety but builds!)
There’s that lemon which seems to be a trademark of Cotswolds malts and wood. Quite a long finish with some slight salt at the end.

Overall: A lovely dram, very much suited to all palates and a great whisky for mixin’. So, this World Whisky Day, why not unleash your inner ‘outlaw”?!

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is available to buy from these Merchants:-

Many thanks to cotswoldsdistillery.com (Twitter: @cotswoldistill / Instagram: @cotswoldsdistillery) for sending me the sample!

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