Cotswolds ‘The Alice’ Single (Calvados) Cask

‘The Alice’ Single (Calvados) Cask, named after our Distillery Manager, because this is her favourite cask. A beautiful honeyed whisky full of zesty citrus and orchard fruit. Made with 100% locally grown barley from the Cotswolds, this limited edition single malt whisky was matured full-term in a single (first-fill ex-Calvados) cask. Filled on the 10th of September 2016 and bottled on-site.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Warm stewed apples with star anise
Palette: Brown sugar, dark chocolate and toasted almonds
Finish: Light and fruity with lingering apple notes

‘The Alice’ Single (Calvados) Cask ABV: 54% | RRP £125 for a bottle.

Available exclusively to purchase online and in-stores.

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From Alice, our Distillery Manager

“The Calvados casks in our inventory have always been a favourite of mine. The light apple flavour and subtle, sweet wood are the perfect pairing for our equally light and fruity spirit. It displays the distillery character that the team and I work so hard for. This cask in particular strikes what I think is the perfect balance between these two elements. Whilst also celebrating the versatility of our spirit in a cask type beyond what you typically see in our core whisky range.”

From Calvados to the Cotswolds

This launch brought back memories of a journey that took place back in 2016. Our founder, Dan, and our Production Director, Nick, ventured to Normandy, France, where they hand-picked Calvados casks. Dan’s affection for the region and its famous apple brandy, Calvados, dates back to his weekends in Pays d’Auge. Over the years, he even crafted ‘Cotswolvados’ batches our distillery using local apple cider.

Obtaining Calvados casks is no easy task. They were once forbidden in Scotland for whisky aging, and Calvados distillers tend to hold onto them for generations. So, in 2016, Dan and Nick took matters into their own hands.

They rented a truck, boarded an overnight ferry to Le Havre, and began their adventure. Their journey led them to renowned distilleries like Christian Drouin, where they secured beautiful oak barrels that had matured Calvados for years. They also visited Tonnellerie du Pays D’Auge, acquiring a variety of barrels. The last stop was Domaine de Semainville, known for making exceptional Calvados the traditional way. They purchased barrels from Emmanuel Camut, including some of the oldest and largest ones.

Upon returning, the truck was filled to the brim with these treasured casks, which were promptly filled with our new-make whisky. The result? An absolutely unique bottling, marrying our full-flavoured single malt spirit with the rich flavours of dark chocolate and apples.