The London-based craft distillery of Bimber has launched the seventh batch in its The Spirit Of The Underground series. Each whisky in this long running series is bottled from a single cask at its natural cask strength. The series is released in collaboration with Transport For London and each bottling features a different tube station. There will be 44 such bottlings once the series is completed. This time around Euston, Knightsbridge, Liverpool Street and Westminster are featured.
The Spirit Of The Underground – Euston consists of only 257 bottles at 57.9% ABV from ex-Bourbon cask #322. Knightsbridge is released at 58.1% ABV and has been matured in ex-Moscatel sherry wine cask #435 with 290 bottles released. Liverpool Street is bottled at 58.7% ABV and matured in an ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry cask #444, which has yielded 298 bottles. Westminster is bottled at 57.2% ABV and is taken from an ex-Madeira cask #108/2. There are just 242 bottles.
Bimber The Spirit Of The Underground bottles are initially available via ballot on The Spirit Of The Underground website. This is now closed but you can pick up bottles from selected retailers, auction sites and other secondary market sources.
Our Tasting Notes
Euston
Cask #322 | 57.9% ABV | ex-Bourbon | 257 bottles
On the nose there are lots of juicy sultana, candied lemon and lime with some floral honey. Then comes vanilla sugar and corn flakes. Finally there are plenty of freshly sawn wood, which is most reminiscent of pencil shavings.
On the palate this theme continues with lots of juicy peaches and candied peel, lime in particular. Then comes the traditional bourbon notes of vanilla fudge, coconut, and milk chocolate. All wrapped up with a dusting of cinnamon powder. There is a distinct drying black pepper and spice of red chillies on the finish with plenty of vanilla and toasted oak.
Knightsbridge
Cask #435 | 58.1% ABV | ex-Moscatel sherry | 290 bottles
Initially the nose on this whisky is bright and uplifting. It has a somewhat funky burnt caramelised peach, ripe apricot (straight from the tree) with candied lime and a hint of grassiness and meadow flowers. Sugary notes resembled spun sugar join a defined nuttiness mixed with dark chocolate. Finally lots of wood and just a hint of menthol.
On the palate this whisky is sharp and bittersweet upfront with distinct sherry-like character – juicy sultanas and toffee sugars. The bitter flavours take the form of green almonds in the shell. Then this opens up to more rich and creamy flavours. There is milk chocolate ice-cream and vanilla paste. Lots of creamy nuttiness, like almonds and Brazil nuts, plus a hint of tobacco. What follows is a drying finish with peppery heat and red pepper spice. There is plenty of malt and oakiness with more of the fresh green almonds.
Liverpool Street
Cask #444 | 58.7% ABV | ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry | 298 bottles
The nose is sweet and woody. Initial aromas of caramel and fairground toffee apple are quickly joined by roasted almonds, freshly baked ginger cake, and pencil shavings. Hints of dried cranberries and tobacco leaf sit in the background.
On the palate this whisky feels syrupy and viscous. Notes of dark caramel, and milk chocolate lead the way. Then come sugary raisins, something nutty (this is reminiscent of toasted walnut) and dried cranberries. A hint of bitter walnuts and black treacle add depth. The finish is sweet upfront then becomes more drying and peppery with lashings of oak woodiness.
Westminster
cask 108/2 | 57.2% ABV | ex-Madeira | 242 bottles
The nose has a distinct old furntiure shop and cigar box feel. Aromas of bitter orange oil, baked apple and beeswax polish mingle with dark honey, popcorn and dark chocolate. The popcorn evolves to be more barbequed corn on the cob. On the palate the whisky has a waxy syrup-like viscosity. There is lots of crumbly brown sugar, which is supported by orange oil, candied lime, raisins and sultanas.
Further hints of dried apricots, vanilla. dusty oakiness and tobacco leaf also come through. A note reminiscent of sponge cake drizzled with golden syrup sits in the background. The bold finish is heavy with bitter tobacco leaf and a distinct peppery heat. An almost burnt toast with butter-like note develops late on.
What’s The Verdict?
The Spirit of The Underground series from Bimber has gained much traction amongst whisky drinkers and beyond with the bottlings to date. These next four will only add to this and expect to see them perform well on the secondary auction market as a result. We love the idea of the series, the exploration of cask types and the official hook-up with Transport for London. This means they can use the official roundal logo, font and associated imagery. It is a strong collection.
With these four new additions it is sometimes difficult to fight against the high strength alcohol. This leaves a consistent peppery note and heat throughout, especially on the finish. There are also heavy levels of spice and complex sugary traits across all four. The addition of water helped all four to create more balance. It will be interesting to see where the collection goes next, and which stations will feature.
