Origin: England
Type: London Rye Whisky
Strength: 47%ABV
Ageing casks: Regenerated, American, Hungarian and ex-London Brandy
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: East London Liquor Co.
Average price: € 85.00
Official website: eastlondonliquorcompany.com
Vote: 82/100
About East London Liquor Co. I have already had a chance to talk on an interview with the founder, Alex Wolpert, which you can read here.
Today I’m trying one of their most peculiar bottlings. The choice to produce a rye in Europe until recently was seen as a bit of a gamble, but more and more distilleries are trying their hand at distilling rye (including our own InQuota), and so it can safely be considered consolidated on the old continent as well.
55% rye and 45% barley, both malted (a decidedly atypical composition), long fermentation between 96 and 120 hours, and aging of unspecified duration in a rather unusual mix of casks.
Tasting notes
On the nose, one struggles to identify it as a rye; notes tend toward sour, almost lactic, and only with time do impressions of gingerbread and spices emerge. Citrus, nutmeg, nuts, raisins, pear candy and porridge round out the bouquet. Curious.
The palate is again underwhelming compared to its overseas cousins, but the rye character emerges with more conviction, along with a reinvigorated spice charge (pepper, nutmeg). Sweetly tart, with candied ginger and cedar, white yogurt, marzipan and an aftertaste of American coffee.
Not very long, lingering finish of wet cereal, spice, coffee, wood.
An out-of-the-box rye that for this reason might displease fans of the genre, showing personality and a project that is not yet entirely accomplished but could lead to very interesting evolutions.