English whisky is an emerging industry, and more and more English single malts are making their way into the market, including White Peak Wire Works.
Found in 2016 by Max Vaughan, White Peak Distillery is the fulfillment of his dream of creating whisky in Derbyshire. The distillery is situated in the former Johnson & Nephew wire works factory by a river and within an ancient woodland, a location so rich in history that it was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2001. This unique setting is at the heart of the distillery’s identity, influencing everything from the visitor experience to the ingredients used in their spirits.
Wire Works Alter Ego was released in 2022. The expressions stand out for their use of local brewer’s yeast and an unusually long fermentation process, resulting in a distinctive new-make spirit with character even before being decanted into the cask.
Of the release, founder Max Vaughan said: “We’re always keen to showcase the innovation and creativity we ourselves enjoy. ‘Alter Ego’ is an example of how we are exploring and developing different approaches during our whisky making to reveal new personality in our spirit.”
“We’re still on a learning curve and it’s exciting to share this with customers and for the longer term we’re interested to get feedback on this release and hope that both our loyal Wire Works supporters and new whisky drinkers will enjoy the whisky for what it is – an approachable, fruit-forward yet complex spirit with a wee bit more peat present in the glass.”
Wire Works Caduro followed suit in 2023, with Vaughan then commenting: “The launch of Caduro marks a milestone for us a year on from our first release, both as a development towards a benchmark core whisky, and with a name that is grounded in the passion and connection we feel for our home and rich heritage here at the Wire Works”.
Whilst the Wire Works whiskies are readily available in the UK for around £50-£65, demand and short supply in the US has inflated the prices.
So, will the Wire Works whiskies stand up to tasting scrutiny?
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