Review | Fielden Hazybower

This is the second bottling in the Fieldnotes Collection from the English whisky brand of Fielden. The collection celebrates the flora of the English countryside. The Hazybower is a celebration of wild herbs and flowers that give diversity to hedgerows. The whisky uses heritage rye, wheat and barley to produce its distinctive spirit. The name is derived from ‘hazy’ suggesting a sense of mystery and depth, with a ‘bower’ being an old English word for a shady, leafy shelter or a place of rest.

Hazybower has been created by Chico Rosa, Fielden’s Whiskymaker. It follows the inaugural Hedgerow bottling that introduced the Fieldnotes Collection in 2024. Hazybower has been predominantly matured in re-used American oak casks that have previously held their core Fielden Rye whisky. A small percentage has also seen full maturation in Hungarian oak ex-Tokaji sweet wine casks from Hungary.

Fielden is named after an Old English word meaning ‘of the field’. All their whisky is made from grain grown following a regenerative farming practice. That means they plant a mix of heritage grains directly into clover (a natural understory and fertiliser). They also never use agrochemicals (such as fertilisers and pesticides), and nurture the soil (by maintaining soil fertility and avoiding disruption). The mix of genetically diverse ‘field blends’ of heritage grains includes rye as well as wheat and barley.

Fielden Hazybower is bottled at 46.3% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. There are just 1,000 bottles and each will cost £102.50. The whisky will be available in limited quantities in selected world markets.

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Our Tasting Notes

The colour is bright gold and the nose is vibrant, spicy and uplifting. Aromas of golden syrup and heather honey are tempered by some distinct peppery heat and woody dryness. There are further aromas of sugary sultana, grapefruit rind and fresh eucalyptus. Hints of white chocolate, cocoa powder and jasmine sit nicely underneath. This floral element develops well with time.

On the palate this whisky is expressive with a distinct sweet versus savoury battle going on. The golden syrup and floral honey notes from the nose are heavily evident and are complimented by drying oak and warming spices. There is a sweet bread-like quality that gives a slight earthy backbone and is reminiscent of brioche. There is again a tang of bitter grapefruit peel to add depth.

The oak and spice become more dominant in the second half of the palate. Milk chocolate and coco powder give way to freshly sawn oak and pencil shavings. This dries out the palate. There is a peppery kick with a touch of fiery fresh ginger and hint of clove. Some menthol and eucalyptus also come through nicely, as does a further hint of maraschino cherry.

The finish is of decent length and becomes drier, woodier and full of leafy herbal notes towards the death. Oak shavings and peppery heat mingle with warming gingerbread spice and eucalyptus oil. A hint of bitter grapefuit and menthol also sit in the background.

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What’s The Verdict?

This is another fine whisky from Fielden. They are really carving a niche for themselves in the English whisky market and it is interesting to see different ways of present rye. Here the use of Hungarian oak and the sweet ex-Tokaji wine casks has given the whisky a sweet and citrus-like shot of extra flavour. This works well with the earthy, chocolate-like and spicy notes coming from the spirit. Hazybower is a triumph and shows the quality that English whisky can achieve. Grab a bottle while you can.