Review | Cotswolds Peated Cask

This whisky forms part of the Cask Expressions Collection range of the English distillery of Cotswolds. It is made from barley which is 100% grown and floor malted in the Cotswolds. The whisky has undergine full maturation in American oak ex-quarter casks sourced from Islay in Scotland. The Hebridean island is famous for its peaty, smoky style of single malt.

The Cotswolds Distillery is located in the English village of Stourton and was founded in 2014 by Daniel Szor. The first whisky, the Signature Single Malt, was released in 2017. Cotswold Distillery uses 100% locally grown Cotswolds barley for their whisky. It is floor-malted at the nearby Warminster Maltings who are UK’s oldest working maltings with a long reputation for malting for the beer industry. The distillery has a capacity of 500,000 litres. It also produces a flavour-dense Cotswold gin and a range of liqueurs.

The Cask Exoression collection, which this Peated Cask belong to, joins the core Classic collection. This features Founder’s Choice (STR cask matured), the aforementioned Signature (ex-bourbon and STR ex-red wine casks), Sherry Cask (using casks seasoned with Oloroso and PX sherries), and Bourbon Cask (100% first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels). They also produce a significant number of limited editions, including ranges of Hearts & Crafts and Harvest series, as well as a partnership with the Royal Highgrove Gardens.

The Cotswolds Peated Cask is bottled in batches, so the strength varies. Our batch sample is 59.6% ABV. It is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available via specialist whisky retailers both in the UK and select world markets. A bottle should cost £65.

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Our Tasting Notes

The colour is pale gold and the nose is bright, green and smoky. There is plenty of green apple initially, supported by aromas of candyfloss, marshmallow, and icing sugar-like sweetness. Then come further aromas of golden syrup, good vanilla ice cream and hints of juniper, menthol, and cardomom. It feels fresh and herbal with an underlying wisp of bittersweet mossy peat smoke.

On the palate this whisky is vibrant, fruity and expressive. As with the nose there is plenty of green apple up front and those green herbal notes join soon after. Think of hints of juniper and menthol again, with a further suggestion of damp seaweed. There is also plenty of icing sugar, candyfloss and white chocolate-like sweetness. This later evolves to toasted marshmallows, sweet vanilla paste and becomes more honeyed with time.

The peat smoke is there but not the dominant force as it can be in Islay whiskies. The cask has imparted some of the ashy acrid quality but it is not the main feature. Instead is supports the sweet and fruity characteristics well and adds a savoury vibe. The ashy characteristics builds towards the finish, as does a pinch of baking spice and white pepper. Further hints of damp moss and fresh bitumen come through at the close.

The finish becomes more drying, woody and ashy with time. The fresh green herbal notes are also present, especially once the sweet and fruity elements begin to fade. These add a bittersweet edge. The finish is of decent length and becomes a little peppery and hot towards the end.

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What’s The Verdict?

This is an interesting whisky from Cotswolds and one that adds a different dimension to their range. The use of ex-Islay casks is becoming increasingly popular with craft producers. It adds a more subtle smokiness that if the malted barley were peated and put through the production process. This is clearly youthful and green, and in this respect the higher ABV strength does not help it. The peppery heat is dampened by the addition of water and softens the whisky nicely. Water definitely does it some favours. Try it if you can.