English Whisky Chapter 6

In november of 2006 the very first spirit of this young distillery near Norfolk was put into bourbon oak cask no. 001, currently being 'guarded' by the four distillery dogs: Molly, Bert, Oscar and Zeb. Many more casks have been filled in the meantime.

In the meantime, St George’s offers their spirit for sale as well, that has not yet matured to be able to carry the label 'whisky'. Each expression is a 'chapter' - with number. Hence Chapter 1 is their unpeated new make. Chapter 2 is peated new make. Chapter 3 and 4 are unpeated and peated spirit, resp., of 18 months. Chapter 5 is a limited edition whisky in decanter. Chapter 6 - the one I tasted - is available in both versions, i.e. unpeated en peated.

Many more chapters will follow, including a rum finish.

I had the unpeated Chapter 6 at the Ghent Whisky Festival last February.

It smells fresh and fruity, slighty reminiscent of plums. And baby cookies like Vitabis (not sure if you are familiar with that brand - it's the one parents use to mix in the baby's first fruit meals).

It tastes rather 'hard', probably because of the young age. The cereal is back, but less pronounced than on the nose. The Jim Beam bourbon cask is cleary discernable. Not too shabby.

The finish is rather alcoholic and only at the end becomes somewhat flowery. Not overly complex, though.

Chapter 6 is non-chill filtered and untinted and has an ABV of 46%. But it's too young to be really good. Nevertheless, this dram may have a great future indeed.

It's the first English single malt is over 100 years!

Find where to buy St George's Distillery whisky