White Peak lays bare its house style and its oldest whisky yet

with Wire Works Bourbon Barrel

Award-winning Derbyshire Distillery – White Peak – hits a landmark this summer with the Distillery’s oldest whisky yet: Wire Works Bourbon Barrel.

This milestone bottling is the Distillery’s first release to be fully matured in ex-bourbon barrels, featuring some of the oldest casks in White Peak’s warehouse since its inception in 2016.

Wire Works Bourbon Barrel is a vatting of a select parcel of American oak, first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 53.5%. Each cask was filled with Wire Works’ signature lightly-peated single malt spirit and has developed into a beautifully balanced complex spirit, showcasing the fruit-forward character of the Distillery.

The new release will join Wire Works Caduro as the second permanent expression in White Peak’s core range of products, a significant marker in the legacy being laid down by the Distillery.

Max Vaughan, founder of White Peak Distillery, said: “We’re so excited to be releasing our second permanent expression to build on our core range of whiskies following Caduro last year.  Bourbon Barrel is a signature whisky for us, elevating our house style and showcasing our unique flavour elements; our Derbyshire home, lightly-peated malt barley, fresh local Brewer’s yeast, long fermentation and slow distillation.”

“Ex-bourbon barrels are considered to be relatively inactive and so their exclusive use in maturation can really highlight a distillery’s true house character.  It’s over 6 years since we fired up the stills, and we feel the time is right in 2024 to open up our soul with this release. This is some of our oldest liquid from some of our favourite casks, and we hope White Peak whisky lovers will enjoy it as much as we’ve enjoyed our journey so far”

Since the first Wire Works release in February 2022, White Peak has released several whiskies under the house Wire Works Whisky name, including Caduro in 2023 – the first permanent edition to the White Peak range of whiskies – and a number of limited editions.

As with all Wire Works whiskies, Bourbon Barrel is natural colour and non-chill filtered. The release will be available from 5^th July via the Distillery shop and online, as well as from select trade partners nationwide, RRP: £65 per 70cl.

White Peak Distillery is open Monday – Saturday for shop visitors, with tours available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For availability, timings and to book, please visit: www.whitepeakdistillery.co.uk

Wire Works Bourbon Barrel

Tasting notes:

Overview: Fruit salad sweets and custard creams.

Nose: Vanilla cheesecake, white chocolate, fruit salad sweets, lemon curd, candied ginger, peaches and cream.

Palate: Custard creams, lemon zest, icing sugar, chocolate covered peanuts, honey, ginger bread.

Finish: Apple crumble, murray mints, lime pickle, white pepper.

About White Peak Distillery:

Nestled in the heart of Derbyshire, White Peak Distillery stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of innovation and craftsmanship for which this region is renowned. The White Peak journey started with a vision and purpose, rather than any grand marketing plan. To create an authentic English single malt whisky that honours the maker traditions that put Derbyshire on the global map.  This legacy informs the Distillery’s decisions around whisky-making, its place in the community and establishing a destination to celebrate the craft of distilling.

The discovery of the former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works site was a pivotal moment for the founders. The Victorian era industrial buildings, rich with character and history, were once at the heart of a community, employing over 500 people. The Wire Works is more than just a location; it is a symbol of the region’s heritage. The process of renovating and repurposing this building wasn’t just about creating a space for whisky production; it was about breathing new life into a building with character and extending the legacy of making. This spirit of innovation, respect for the past and sense of place has resulted in a whisky with a unique character.

White Peak was founded in 2016 by local couple Max & Claire Vaughan and, although a few years have passed, in whisky terms the business is still a start-up. Over the past eight years, the team has meticulously crafted its approach, and the launch of Wire Works Whisky in early 2022 has already led to several international awards.  The recognition is not only for its fruit-forward, lightly-peated single malt but also for the whisky packaging, which honours the back story of the Wire Works. A considered, makers mindset permeates throughout the business.

White Peak has developed a true connection with the region. One example is the use of fresh brewer’s yeast from a local Peak District brewery, contributing flavour that is unique to Wire Works Whisky.  The thoughtful design and construction of the distillery itself includes equipment and engineering sourced locally in county, with every element carefully unpacked to enhance the whisky’s character.  The entire process happens on site, from mashing and fermentation, through distillation, maturation and bottling – a full life-cycle of Derbyshire provenance.  Each stage of whisky-making is designed to develop layers of flavour, and creating a whisky that is a true reflection of Derbyshire’s rich heritage.

White Peak Distillery Awards:

UK Packaging Awards 2022:

• Corrugated Pack of the Year
• Best Packaging of a New Product
• Glass Pack of the Year, Spirits, Perfumes and Cosmetics

The Global World Whisky Masters 2022:

• Necessary Evil: Gold
• Small Batch: Gold

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2022:

• Best Contemporary Design: Wire Works Whisky

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC):

• Caduro: Gold (2024)
• Caduro: Silver (2023)

People’s Choice Awards 2023:

• Best Whisky: Wire Works Whisky Small Batch – World Whisky Category

2023 World Whisky Masters: Wire Works Caduro Gold

2023 World Whisky Masters: Wire Works Alter Ego Masters 

English Whisky Guild:

White Peak Distillery is one of the founding members of the English Whisky Guild, that was launched in 2022 by the English whisky industry to represent the interests of the increasing number of English whisky distilleries (currently 50+) on the world stage of whisky.

For further information visit:  English Whisky Guild