Bankhall Sweet Mash

 

Located in the heart of Blackpool sits Bankhall Distillery. Built in 2019, the distillery joins the rapidly growing Halewood Artisanal Spirits portfolio which includes the new Aber Falls distillery together with well-known names such as Whitley Neill gin, Crabbies & Dead Man’s Fingers Rum.

From the Halewood Artisanal Spirits website

Bankhall Distillery, our new adventurous Distillery, is re-imagining the traditional Whisky-making process in the UK, drawing inspiration from the US, and ingenuity resulting from the blend of both.

Using a Bourbon-Style Mash Bill of Corn, Rye, and Malt we create a thick and hearty mash that serves as the foundation for our spirit. To craft our expressions we start with high quality Corn that we get shipped in from France. Our Rye & Malted Barley we source locally from premium growers in England.

By Sweet Mashing – the process of starting our batches fresh every time – Head Distiller, Vince Oleson, who has come all the way from the US of A, is able to achieve a rich yet soft profile in all our distillates, which, most importantly, allows us to be more daring with our Adventures in Distilling.

Tasting notes:

Appearance: Amber/gold, forms a thin line which quickly beads before turning to slow, thin legs.

Nose: Sweet caramel dominates, together with vanilla and a little coconut.

Palate: Sweet brown sugar, buttered corn, marzipan nuttiness, baked Bramley apples with vanilla custard.

Finish: Creamy, brings back strong memories of the pink and white nougat bars flecked with peanuts from my youth.

Summary: I was born and raised a couple of miles away from Blackpool, so I was naturally curious to get an idea of the type of spirit they’re looking to produce at Bankhall. The result is interesting, it’s sweet and nutty with a very evident corn influence. 

Overall it’s an easy drinker both neat and over ice and, although it’s not a flavour profile that normally appeals to me, I strongly doubt I’m in the target demographic. The look and feel of their marketing suggests they’re aiming at a younger market where a JD & Coke is a regular order at the bar. Incidentally, the results of mixing with Coca Cola bears a surprising similarity to root beer, again not something I enjoy but there are plenty who do. 

At a price of £26 and bottled at a very respectable 46%, I’ve no doubt this has the potential to be very popular.