Exploring English Whisky Launches Inaugural “Explorer Series”
Exploring English Whisky are delighted to announce the launch of their inaugural “Explorer Series” release. This is the first release by Exploring English Whisky and has been created in partnership with Whiskyside.com, an online retailer of English Spirits, who hold the largest known collection of English Whisky at their bar in Yorkshire. Deviating from their traditional cask shares model on stillincask.com, Exploring English Whisky have joined forces with Adnams, a renowned brewery & distillery, for this limited-edition release.
Exploring English Whisky’s journey, catalysed by an online St. George’s Day tasting during the first Covid lockdown, has evolved into a membership club and an annual festival held in Birmingham. Founder Richard Foster remarks, “There’s not much to thank Covid for, but we’re one of the feel-good stories from that period of time. I love English Whisky and the people behind every bottle, it’s a fascinating category so I wanted to shine a light on it and help spread the word so more people could enjoy it across the UK and dispel a few myths about non-Scotch along the way!”
Adnams make multiple styles of whisky with different mash bills, but this is their single malt recipe and it’s been maturing for 7 years in Adnams’ signature second-fill French Oak casks. The liquid is then finished for approximately 2 years in French sweet Sauternes wine casks – an increasingly popular choice in whisky maturation. The French Oak casks impart a Bourbon-like character with a twist, delivering delightful notes of melted butter, fennel, stone fruits, and grappa – before washing over the tongue with more smooth buttery deliciousness, a layer of apricot jam and a sprinkling of baking spices. The finish is a warm, rich, and spicy symphony, maintaining a bright and lively quality from the influence of the exquisite Sauternes wine casks.
Foster expressed his excitement about the release, stating, “There are very few age statemented English Whiskies on the market, so we are excited to be able to stamp nine years onto this bottle – in part to showcase the lengths that Adnams have gone to in maturing this whisky in such a great combination of casks – but also due to the surprise most people have when they find out how long Adnams has been making whisky for. Not only is English Whisky ‘a thing’ – but it’s also now able to compete alongside Scotch in the traditional age brackets of 8, 12 and 15 years, albeit in far smaller quantities.”
He emphasises the craft and sustainability of Adnams, using locally sourced barley, long fermentations, and slow, careful distillation, resulting in a distinct distillery flavour profile that relies less on wood for flavouring. He notes, “Craft whisky distilleries like Adnams do more than just make whisky, and when this opportunity arose – I knew I had to jump on it.”
“This whisky has a clear salinity that – I believe – comes from Adnams’ proximity to the North Sea – probably more so through the maturation, but every process takes place in Southwold so the coast always within view of this whisky until it’s bottled. That’s why we put the coast on the label – a nod to mother nature’s power and impact on whisky through ageing in unique micro-climates like the one Adnams finds itself in Southwold, on the Suffolk coast.” Regarding the bottle’s design, Foster states, “Creating our first label was a big moment for us,” describing it as a fusion of brand identity and a unique representation of the distillery, featuring an ‘Explorer Series’ black ‘X’—the symbol of the range. The remaining elements, such as the textured paper and gold foiling add layers of opulence to the design – reflecting the rarity and quality of Sauternes wines and Suffolk whiskies.
The Explorer Series launch marks the beginning of an exciting journey for Exploring English Whisky, with promises of more unique bottlings to come in the years ahead.
The release is limited to 700 bottles and is available for £70 from Whiskyside.com, members of Exploring English Whisky can also enjoy £10 off per bottle.
For more information, visit EXPLORING ENGLISH WHISKY
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Melted butter, fennel seeds and stone fruits washed down with grappa
Palate: Buttery smooth with apricot jam and baking spices
Finish: Warm, spicy, and rich
RECOMMENDED SERVE
“Southwold Lighthouse”
This twist on a “Mott & Mulberry” (named after an intersection in NYC) features our Adnams 9yo ex Sauternes Cask in place of spicy American Rye Whiskey. We think it’s delicious and a perfect Autumn / Winter cocktail. Give it a go:
30ml Adnams 9yo
30ml Benedictine (or Amaro / Chartreuse / Cynar)
30ml English Cider (ideally from Suffolk)
10ml Lemon Juice
10ml Maple Syrup (or Demerara sugar syrup)
Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice. Strain and pour into a tumbler. Garnish with thinly sliced apple on a skewer over the glass.
