Independent bottler The Heart Cut has launched Barley, its first core range release created in collaboration with five leading English distilleries. The new small-batch blended malt whisky is now available, with a flavor profile shaped by data from more than 5,000 whisky drinkers.
Barley is the first release in a new grain-led core series that will also celebrate corn and rye as the building blocks of whisky.
The expression was made in partnership with Cotswolds Distillery, The English Distillery, White Peak Distillery, Copper Rivet Distillery, and Adnams Distillery.
It is bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, and has a natural color.
To craft the whisky’s profile, The Heart Cut analyzed consumer data from its online ‘Whisky Matchmaker’ tool, which pairs drinkers with whiskies based on their flavor preferences.
Georgie Bell, co-founder of The Heart Cut, said: “We’ve spent two years listening to thousands of whisky drinkers tell us what they love, and Barley is our answer.”
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“It’s a blend built around the flavors people actually ask for, but it’s also a celebration of what’s happening right here in England,” she continued.
“These five distilleries are doing incredible work, and we wanted to bring their voices together in something delicious, sippable and mixable.”
The launch comes as the English whisky category continues its rapid expansion. The sector now includes more than 50 distilleries producing spirit, with organizations like the English Whisky Guild working to promote the category’s quality and diversity on a global stage.
Rob Patchett, global advocacy manager at Cotswolds Distillery, commented on the new collaboration.
He said: “Collaboration is at the core of what makes English whisky so exciting right now.”
“Being part of The Heart Cut x Barley allows us to celebrate the diversity of English single malts while contributing to a whisky that truly captures the character and quality of what’s being made across the country,” Patchett added.
According to official notes from the brand, the whisky has flavors of strawberry jam, thick vanilla cream, and cinnamon buns, with additional notes of fresh raspberries and orange blossom.
The Heart Cut x Barley became available on November 24 2025 with a recommended retail price of £48 (US$61).
It is being sold via theheartcut.com and at select retailers.
The whisky will also be available as a ‘Pocket Pour’, the brand’s signature 30ml sample format.
The Heart Cut was founded by the husband-and-wife team Fabrizio Leoni and Georgie Bell. The company was named Independent Bottler of the Year at the Global Icons of Whisky Awards in both 2024 and 2025.
