Three from The London Distillery Company - Ten times around the Sun, Embarque and Yesteryear
From the distillery website
When The London Distillery Company first opened its doors, it did so with a clear sense of purpose. For more than a century, whisky making had all but vanished from the capital, yet London’s distilling connection ran deep. TLDC’s founders wanted to reconnect with that legacy, creating whisky that was unmistakably London in both origin and character.
Ten times around the Sun - 51.4%
A decade ago, the company laid down some of its earliest casks, including ex-bourbon barrel #007. Few could have predicted that this unassuming cask would one day become Ten Times Around the Sun – London’s first 10-year-old single malt whisky and a milestone release for the city’s modern whisky scene.
This landmark release has been crafted from Quench barley and has been matured in a single ex-bourbon barrel. Limited to just 220 bottles, it stands proudly as London’s first 10-year-old single malt whisky. Ten Times Around the Sun encapsulates time, place and pioneering spirit. It is a tribute to the capital’s distilling history and a celebration of the bold new future of The London Distillery Company.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Pale gold, forms a thin line which beads before merging and falling slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Subtle tropical fruit notes of mango and fresh pineapple, lemon citrus, nectarines and almond nougat with vanilla developing with time in the glass
Palate: Luxurious, creamy mouthfeel. Ambrosia Creamed Rice Pudding with a dollop of tropical fruit jam swirled into it, white chocolate and a prickle of pepper. Water brings stone fruit, a touch of astringency and a soft, herbal note
Finish: Long, lingering and slightly drying, gently herbal with a peppery warmth
Overall: Such an interesting whisky with a great mouthfeel. Fruity, creamy and mildly spicy, the cask influence is there but takes a back seat and allows the spirit character to shine through. Price at launch is £89.95, which feels quite high but it’s a limited release and I’ve no doubt the 220 bottles released will go quickly.
Embarque is The London Distillery Company’s celebration of journeys – from the sun-drenched bodegas of Jerez to the historic docks of London. This single malt whisky captures the story of our capital’s maritime past and the historic sherry cask trade that shaped the whisky industry.
This release has been crafted from carefully selected TLDC single malts and finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks from Bodegas Barbadillo. The result is a richly layered whisky, that stands as a testament not only to the transformative power of sherry cask maturation but also to the centuries-old trade that brought these casks into London’s historic docks, shaping both the future of whisky and the city itself.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Burnished gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thick, oily legs
Nose: Fruits of the forest berries, chocolate enrobed orange peel, treacle tart with vanilla ice cream, a touch of new leather and a hint of cinnamon
Palate: Medium to full bodied with a touch of astringency. Dried fruit and nut mix, mixed berry jam, cinnamon, caramelised orange and a touch of barrel char. With a few drops of water, chocolate coated nuts and raisins appear together with a touch of ginger warmth
Finish: Lingering dried fruit, walnuts, baking spices and a hint of new leather
Overall: The first-fill Oloroso casks have had a significant influence, bringing notes of dried fruit and nuts. It’s an enjoyable whisky, a little youthful but that’s not to its detriment. Price is £89.95, pretty expensive for a youngish whisky even though the quality is decent.
Yesteryear was born from the 2011 founding of The London Distillery Company, crafted anew from the distillery’s LV-1767 Edition – the first new London whisky for over 100 years.
We’ve revived this historic whisky, returning it from glass to first-fill sherry octaves and finishing it in a refill sherry quarter cask – and in doing so, have created a reimagined expression of the whisky that started it all.
Yesteryear stands as a bridge between what was and what’s to come – honouring the past while shaping the future of London whisky.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Tawny in colour, forms a thin line which beads before falling slowly as thin, oily legs
Nose: Thick cut orange marmalade, dark chocolate caramel toffees, goji berries, cinnamon and ginger spice
Palate: Mouthcoatingly thick and oily. Rich caramel toffee, Seville orange marmalade, cinnamon cloves, black pepper and a touch of nutmeg. With water, more marmalade notes appear at the expense of some of the rye spice
Finish: Long, lingering, warming and softly herbal with notes of bitter orange, cinnamon, black pepper
Overall: I freely admit rye isn’t top of my whisky list, but this is rather nice. It’s a little heavy on the spice for me, but the orange and caramel notes are very enjoyable and a few drops of water bring them to the fore and reduce some of that spicy heat. Priced at £69.95 on the distillery website, again a little high for a 6 year old release but if you fancy something different this might just be for you.
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Summary: A really interesting set of drams that I really enjoyed having the opportunity to try. Favourite for me was the recently launched Ten Times Around the Sun, although I have to admit Yesteryear ran it a very close second.
The brand leans very heavily on its history and that of the London whisky industry, a smart move as it’s a tried and tested formula Scottish distilleries have been using for many years. No doubt this will resonate most with whisky drinkers in the region, but also those with an eye on history itself.
That only goes so far though and, whilst the packaging and branding is beautifully done and really eye-catching, the pricing for me feels a little excessive. Whilst it’s completely understandable that new owners Gleann Mòr need to recoup their investment, the distillery is still a newcomer and their challenge is to create a loyal following and regular demand for their whisky. I hope their progress isn’t hindered by a pricing strategy that may encourage potential new customers to look for better value elsewhere.
Transparency: Received free of charge for independent review, all opinions are my own and remain completely impartial.
