Ad Gefrin, England’s most northerly whisky distillery, has announced the release of the Crǣft Series, marking the first Northumbrian English single malt whisky produced in approximately 200 years. The debut release comprises three single cask bottlings, each at 48% ABV, non-chill filtered with no added color, available from July 31, 2026.
The distillery, located in Wooler, Northumberland, has been distilling since November 2022 using locally sourced Cheviot water and barley grown within 25 miles of the stills.
Head distiller Ben Murphy selected the three casks to showcase the developing character of Ad Gefrin’s single malt ahead of a planned core range.
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“Making whisky is about the meeting of art and science,” said Murphy. “We know how our distillery works best, what casks we need and how long to ferment for, but the art is in teasing out the deep-rooted Northumbrian character that embodies everything we do at Ad Gefrin.”
The three expressions each carry distinct profiles. Cask 23170 was matured in an ex-American single malt cask. Cask 23215 spent its maturation in an ex-bourbon cask. Cask 24492 spent 18 months in an ex-American single malt cask before finishing in an Oloroso hogshead.
Official tasting notes from the brand describe Cask 23170 as offering ripe fruit and sweet malt on the nose with spearmint and lemon sherbet on the palate. Cask 23215 is described as the most tropical, with mango and spiced peach leading into creamy vanilla and sweet cinnamon spice. Cask 24492 brings dried fruit, resin, and new leather on the nose with sticky toffee pudding and mulled wine spice on the palate.
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READ THE STORY“These three casks are distinct from each other, showcasing where that art and science can take us,” Murphy added. “It’s a cliché to say we’re excited to release a whisky but for it to be the first legal single malt from Northumbria in 200 years is an incredible thing.”
Each bottle features label artwork by a North East artist paired to a specific cask: Voirrey Taylor for the bourbon cask, Luke McTaggart for the American oak, and Sarah Calavera for the Oloroso sherry finish. The series name derives from the Old English word for art or skill.
All three casks are released simultaneously in sealed boxes. Buyers will not know which cask they receive at point of purchase, though all tasting notes and artist pairings are published openly.
Total production runs to approximately 1,200 bottles. Members of Ad Gefrin’s Corenkyn founding community receive early access, limited to one bottle each.
The release coincides with the Lammas Gaderung, the distillery’s annual harvest celebration. A ticketed launch dinner on July 31 (£95, 120 places) will feature a guided blind tasting led by Murphy, with the three artists in attendance. A whisky festival in partnership with The Whisky Lounge follows on August 1.
The Crǣft Series is the first in a planned run of up to 12 single cask releases. Ad Gefrin, a £16 million distillery and Anglo-Saxon museum founded by the Ferguson family, has welcomed nearly 198,000 visitors since opening in 2023 and holds Gold at the Visit England Awards for Excellence. Tickets and bottles are available at adgefrin.co.uk.
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