Cotswolds Distillery

My first tour of a whisky distillery took place many years ago on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye, a remote, rugged, windswept island, yet one of the most beautiful landscapes of Scotland. Persistent rain was beginning to dampen my enthusiasm for the Western Isles until I came across my, `shelter from the storm` in the form of the Talisker Distillery.

Up until that point I had not considered whisky as my drink of choice. After a very enlightening tour of the distillery, I was invited to taste several `expressions` of Talisker single malt. The smell and taste of the only whisky on the island of Skye, bursting with waves of smokiness and hints of black pepper connected with me immediately.

“Whisky is liquid sunshine.”

George Bernard Shaw

Despite the initial challenges to my sensitive taste buds, I was left with a smooth rounded finish in my mouth and a satisfied, warm feeling of contentment. The rain stopped and a bright ray of sunshine shone down on this remote part of western Scotland. I was hooked!

When I heard there was a whisky distillery in the Cotswolds, the Cotswolds Distillery, I was keen to find out more.

After checking in at the Visitors Centre, we set off for our, Tour & Tastings, which started with a short, interesting video which chronicles the Cotswolds Distillery story and information about their traditional production methods.

The tour, which lasted about an hour was led by an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable guide named Kevin & his apprentice James, who was able to explain the magic processes involved in producing their award-winning spirits, principally whisky, rum and gin.

“The light music of whiskey falling into a glass—an agreeable interlude.”

James Joyce

We then crossed over the yard to the distillery where we were given a very detailed account of how they craft their award-winning spirits,. We were able to see & smell the processes in action before entering the cask warehouse.

Their first project was the gin, over two months researching botanical recipes until they had created over 60 individual gin recipes, which finally became their Cotswolds Dry Gin.

Founder Dan’s dream was always to make whisky and after three years and a day under the expertise & caring eye of their Master Distiller, the Cotswolds Distillery released their very first Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky in October 2017, the first ever whisky to be distilled in the Cotswolds.

Since its launch, Cotswolds Distillery have expanded their range of single malt whiskies to include a Cask Collection comprising four unique cask expressions, a yearly limited-edition Hearts & Crafts series, drawing inspiration from the Arts & Crafts movement, and hand-picked single cask releases.

The distillery is quite small so everything can be seen very easily including the sparkling copper stills, the mash house, bottling plant and the distillery’s cask warehouse, where the whisky was maturing in the oak barrels. We were told by the guide that many of the barrels they use had previously been used for American Bourbon & Spanish Sherry and that the Distillery continues to use the very best of traditional methods in the maturation of their spirits.

I was fascinated by the story of the `Angels Share`. As much as 25% of the spirit can be lost from the cask over ten years through natural evaporation, this is called the `Angels Share` which explains why older whiskies are more expensive to buy, there is obviously less whisky to bottle.

The Cotswolds Distillery is proud of the environment in which it is located and from its inception has set about protecting and preserving the heritage and community links which are so important to its growth. Its carbon footprint is also being reduced in a number of innovative and enterprising ways; burning fuel from sustainable sources and the mash or barley waste, from the whisky production, is fed to local cattle & pig stock.

“The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort, I learned to like it.”

Sir Winston Churchill

There was a great deal of information to take on board in a short period of time, so if any of the information, I have given is incorrect I am more than happy to be corrected!

At the end of the tour, we were given the opportunity to sample their full range of spirits and liqueurs in small glasses. I now know that I have been drinking whiskey incorrectly all my life! Instead of using a glass tumbler, which I had always thought of as a whisky glass, I should have been using a tulip glass, which helps to enhance the smell & taste of the whisky. You learn something new every day! A cube of ice or splash of water also helps the flavours! I do know that chocolate is the perfect accompaniment to whisky.

Every one of the staff that I spoke to demonstrates a great passion for their products and quite clearly enjoy sharing that excitement and enthusiasm with those who visit. Everyone from the reception staff in the gift shop, the guides on the tour and restaurant staff all greeted me with a smile and a kind word and were all happy to discuss their products.

I thoroughly enjoyed my TOUR & TASTING and would fully recommend.

Why don’t you check it out for yourself?

Cotswolds Distillery, Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road, Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 5EX