The English Small Batch Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead - 46%
Based in Norfolk, St George’s Distillery are England's oldest whisky distillery and an independent family owned business. Originally conceived by father and son partnership James and Andrew Nelstrop as a micro-distillery, plans quickly changed due to HMRC requiring a still size of no less than 1800 litres.
With the help of then retired ex-Laphroaig Master Distiller Iain Henderson, production started and the first 29 casks laid down in December 2006.
St. George’s use locally sourced barley and fresh water from the Brecklands aquifer which runs beneath the distillery.
About the whisky
Peated to a level of 41ppm and distilled in February 2012 before being left to mature in sherry hogsheads. A Small Batch release of only 1800 bottles, natural colour and non-chill filtered.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Copper gold with a slight pinkish hue. Forms a thin line which breaks before falling as thick, oily legs.
Nose: Soft, sweet barbecue smoke, rich dried fruits, dark cherries and a little oak woodiness.
Palate: Thick, almost syrupy and mouthcoating. Soft, dry smoke like an old newspaper thrown on a bonfire, unctuous dried fruit and rich caramel. Ginger and cinnamon add spice, together with woody oak and a hint of aniseed.
Finish: Rich fruit syrup, sweet lingering smoke, toasted nuts, baking spices with a tannic oak dryness.
Summary: A beautifully put together whisky, balancing soft peat smoke and the sherry cask perfectly. Although colour should never be taken as a sign of quality, it has to be said this whisky looks absolutely stunning in the glass. However, despite this richly coloured appearance, the sherry influence isn’t quite as heavy as you may expect. Not so much a big, robust sherry bomb, instead it seems to enhance the smokiness of the spirit and combine with it to form a warm, comforting blanket of flavour.
I first encountered this distillery through a very early bottling for Marks and Spencer. That young expression was almost colourless and lacking in any real character, as a result I hadn’t looked at their offerings since. However, this is a malt that makes you sit up and take notice, and I have to say the progress made over such a relatively short space of time is very impressive indeed.
Currently priced around £65, which for me is very good value for this level of quality. You may need to be quick though, this one proved so popular on the tasting session that it sold out on the night.
If you would like to know more about The English whiskies, and the St. George’s distillery, follow the link to the company website.
Transparency: This sample was part of a 5 dram sample set, purchased from The Spirits Embassy. No goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested for this independent review.
