English Whisky Chapter 9

English Whisky Company, Chapter 9. 46% ABV, retails at £39.99. Cask: American Bourbon 1st Fill. Age: 3 years. On the bottle it says “Peated/Smokey” It is peated at 35 ppm.

Dominic says:

Nose: A shy and retiring nose with whispy smoke and summer hay

Taste: First wave is creamy honey and sweet apple with a delayed healthy hit of peat. This gives way to a licorce allsorts flavour, the round blue and pink bobbly ones, you know the ones I mean (ed: is there a specific name for these?).

Finish. Surprisingly and amazingly well integrated, the finish gives toffee apples, a bit of pepper and a touch of wood. Its short to medium long and very pleasant.

Tony Says: Very light nose, not much going on there, but it has a lovely light peat taste without any of the barley after taste you get in other young whiskies. As you would expect, its not massively complex, but its very drinkable and high quality. I liked the chapter 6 (bought two bottles), but I think this is a step forward. The peat mitigates the youth of the spirit without compromising the fresh, lemony tasting that seems to be becoming the St George’s signature. I think they were right to not go the whole hog with higher levels of peat, it is balanced as is and seems to work well. I think its a bit expensive at £40, but there is no denying its a quality product, and after our islay trip it think everyone is trying to up the price for premium whisky (err, thats why its premium?)

Pat: Nose: Light with a touch of stewed fruit, merest hint of peat. Taste: Apples and late peat. Finish: slightly woody/oaky finish.

Michelle: Nose: roasted sweetcorn, a bit of diesel and demarara sugar. Taste: peppery wood. Finish: yes I have, want some more!

Overall, I think its safe to say we are all very impressed by it, Tony and Dom more so than Pat and Michelle. Whereas the chapter 6 was young but full of promise, the chapter 9 is a more complete, rounded whisky. The mystery of where chapters 7 and 8 are is explained on their website.

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