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Whisky Review: Bimber The Spirit Of The Underground - King's Cross St Pancras

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Whisky Review: Bimber The Spirit Of The Underground – King’s Cross St Pancras

by Mark Bostock
November 4, 2024

Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.

Tasting Notes:

About:

A single cask bottling from London based English distillery Bimber, the King’s Cross St Pancras release is part of The Spirit of the Underground Collection which celebrates London’s heritage with each release featuring a different station from the London Undergrounds network. An ongoing collection of releases, The Spirit of the Underground bottlings are released in batches of four single casks bottlings – with 270 stations in London’s network there are plenty to come. Bimber’s King’s Cross St Pancras release is bottled from one American oak ex-bourbon cask, producing 259 bottles.

Appearance:

Pale Straw

Nose:

Very floral fragrant nose, followed by a combination of fruity notes – peaches, red apples, pineapple, coconut and apricot – balanced against vanilla and nutmeg. There’s also notes of waxy furniture polish.

Palate:

Lots of juicy red apples, a hit of spice pepper and ginger which gives way back to pear and peach fruits. A little chocolate followed by buttery oak leading into a warming heat – a slight hint of salt.

Finish:

Long and warming finish, lots of oaky spice with pepper, cardamom, and clove.

Comments:

Juicy fruits, oaky spice, and cask strength – what’s not to like. This Bimber single cask has lots of flavourful notes, just my kind of whisky.

What Makes Bimber The Spirit Of The Underground A Good Series For Collectors?

Releasing single casks inspired by some of the most iconic Underground stops in the world is an ambitious endeavour for any brand. Whether Bimber can cover every station in London remains to be seen, but each release has celebrated one of the city’s prestigious landmarks—or, in some cases, offered a tribute to a route leading to them via The London Underground. With just 259 bottles drawn from a single cask, and given Bimber’s substantial reputation across the English and Scottish whisky communities, these bottles are beautifully crafted tributes to some of Greater London’s most storied stations.

Availability & Exclusivity Of The Bottle?

To access the ballot for a chance to buy these exclusive bottles, you’ll need to be a member of the Bimber Club. With an already large membership, the odds aren’t particularly high—but as the saying goes, you’ve got to be in it to win it. Each cask yields around 300 bottles, making these releases exceptionally limited, and not everyone has luck with ballots. As whisky enthusiasts, we’ve all faced that dreaded “sorry, not this time” message on the screen. With over 270 stations in London, you’ll need ample shelf space to display these bottles. And with the secondary market currently steady, it might be the perfect time to expand that shelf and keep an eye out for an auction bargain.

Final Thoughts On The Bimber Spirit Of The Underground Series?

Bimber’s series features striking designs paired with whisky that has sparked mixed opinions among enthusiasts. More importantly, the release format and high demand show there’s no slowing down when it comes to the desire for personal whisky collections.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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