Review | Cotswolds Signature Single Malt

The Cotswolds Signature was the first single malt whisky released by the English distillery. Cotswold single malts are made using local barley grown on local farms that is then floor-malted nearby. This expression is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) ex-red wine barriques.

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.

Part of their Classic collection, this whisky is joined by a Founder’s Choice (STR cask matured), Peated Cask (matured in ex-peated quarter cask), 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.

Cotswolds Signature Single Malt is bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtering or colour additives. It is available direct from the distillery, through drinks specialist retailers and some supermarket chains for £46.

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Our Tasting Notes

This whisky is pale gold in colour and bright and vibrant on the nose. Initially there are aromas of fresh green apple and recently cut grass or hay meadow with lashings of lime zest. This opens into sweeter honeyed notes which include caramelised peach and sugared almonds. There is an underlying gentle floral nature like meadow flowers.

On the palate this whisky is luscious, fruity and silky. There are rich golden syrup and honeyed flavours to start, mixed with sweet and juicy ripe peach (imagine it is warm from sitting in the sun). Then come baked green apples with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg, plus a hint of highly fragrant jasmine. The combination is expressive and enjoyable. This then switches to be more spicy and introduces a gentle, yet sweet, gingerbread spice. This lingers through to the finish, as does a hint of cocoa powder and ground almond paste.

With time in your mouth this whisky takes on deeper oaky character which evolves into a drying, almost bitter, tannin on the finish. This woody characteristic is complimented by a peppery heat and prickle on the tongue, especially once the sweet and fruity elements have faded.

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What’s The Verdict?

The Cotswolds Signature Single Malt clearly shows why the Cotswolds brand is doing so well in the English whisky market. This whisky clearly is created from high quality spirit matured with sympathetic casking. There is a bucketful of sweetness and orchard fruits with enough spice and wood influence to stop them becoming dominant. A great all-rounder and one that would be great to introduce someone to the delights of English whisky.