Origin: Yorkshire (England)
Type: English Single Malt Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Port
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Spirit of Yorkshire
Average price: € 90.00
Official website: www.spiritofyorkshire.com
Needless to say, we are very fond of Filey Bay, the English single malt from the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, because it’s drinkable without being banal, it has an intriguing basic flavour profile and the finishes it has undergone so far have been nothing short of excellent.
We are therefore rather curious to taste one of the riskiest of all possible ageing methods, that of ex-port casks, which requires even more careful and measured handling to prevent the vinous notes from taking over.
Initially matured in ex-Bourbon casks, for a whisky proposed at 46%ABV in its natural colour and without chillfiltration, according to the philosophy of Spirit of Yorkshire and still widely available.
Tasting Notes
The colour is pale amber.
The nose is immediately a fruity symphony of apricot, peach and watermelon with a citrus touch of orange peel and a spicy incursion of ginger. Lavender and jasmine help to define the contours of the floral side, while hints of peach yoghurt, chewy berry candy, milk chocolate and candied fruit rest on a barely perceptible woody base. A hint of freshly harvested black grapes completes the balanced and sensual nose, which is also perfectly harmonious in terms of intensity.
On the palate, apricot dominates and the rest is basically a copy/paste of the nose, with just a touch of pepper and an impression of green apple. Again, the ensemble is soft and inviting, and the palate is pleasantly tickled by a gradation that is vintage-centric.
The finish is very long, with apricot, dark chocolate and strawberry yoghurt happily carrying the drinker to the next dram.
Another 100% successful refinement and another commendable whisky for Filey Bay, with the ex-port casks adding an extra sweetness without distorting the whole. There is always room for improvement, and time is always a factor, but for a young distillery, Spirit of Yorkshire can already boast an average quality that is rarely found (even on more prestigious labels) and that gives reason to hope for a bright future.
Vote: 88/100