This whisky is the latest limited edition single malt from the English field-to-bottle distillery Spirit of Yorkshire. The whisky used within the Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique was distilled in 2017. It has been bottled at seven years old and seen maturation in two cask types. Firstly, in ex-bourbon casks (for three years and three months), before being re-racked to ex-orange wine barriques for three years and 10 months. These barriques previously held Vino Naranja del Condado de Huelva. This is exclusively made within a Protected Designation of Origin in southern Spain.
The Spirit of Yorkshire distillery is the brainchild of Tom Mellor and David Thompson. It is in the village of Hunmanby, between the towns of Bridlington and Filey. It was the first single malt distillery to ever be registered in the county of Yorkshire and gives a true ‘field to bottle’ offering. The single malt range is named after the nearby beauty spot of Filey Bay.
They grow all barley needed for whisky production on a nearby farm, which is owned by Mellor, before producing, maturing and bottling all spirit on site. The milling, mashing and fermentation parts of the process take place at the Top Wold brewery. This is also owned by Mellor, which is a couple of miles from the distillery. Distillation began in Spring 2016 and current production sits at just over 100,000 litres per year.
The Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique is limited to just 1,100 bottles. It is available via www.spiritofyorkshire.com, the distillery visitor centre shop and selected specialist whisky retailers in the UK. The whisky is released at 46.2% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. A bottle will cost £85.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is a deep coppery amber and the nose is sweet and fruity. Aromas of confected apple and orange fondant icing lead the way and are supported by further hints of confected aromas – think of pink bubblegum, fairground candyfloss and sherbet flying saucer sweets. A robust malted barley aroma carries the lighter and sweeter aromas superbly.
On the palate this whisky is soft, sweet and confected. Notes of crumbly brown sugar, fresh honeycomb and vanilla fudge hit the tastebuds first, before the confected characteristics from the nose come to the fore. This includes the bubblegum, candyfloss, apple chew sweets and tangy orange sherbet. These elements lift the palate and give a lovely vibrancy. Then comes some citrus blossom – this adds a lovely floral character – and the robust malty cereals. The maltiness has the effect of underpinning everything again. A late kick of white pepper adds depth and plenty of warmth.
The finish is of decent length and is robust and characterful. The late peppery heat from the palate powers much of this and this lingers longest. The sweet and sugary elements fade first, then the confected fruitiness. Then some drying oak evolves to join the white pepper. The result makes your mouth water.
What’s The Verdict?
This is a superbly elegant and characterful whisky from the Spirit of Yorkshire. We have enjoyed several Filey Bay releases in the past, so were excited to sample this one. The ex-orange wine barrique casks have had a profound influence here, and pushed the single malt’s aroma and flavour profile in a different direction. It is sweet, confected, fruity and floral. There is a lovely Spring-like vibrancy and uplifting freshness, and think it perfect for that time of year. We plan to keep our sample until then and taste it again. Delicious.
