London’s Bimber Unveils Largest, Oldest Small Batch Whisky Release To Date

by Gary Carter
April 21, 2023

London’s Bimber Distillery recently announced the worldwide release of its Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4, their largest and oldest small batch single malt to date.

A statement from Bimber noted that this single malt was crafted from a vatting of the distillery’s oldest first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, which was laid down in 2017.

The new Bimber expression came from the distillery’s single farm barley and was malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site built American oak washbacks.

Bimber Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4 — London’s Bimber Distillery recently announced the worldwide release of its Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4, their largest and oldest small batch single malt to date. (image via Bimber)

The distillation took place in Bimber’s customized alembic pot still, and with their increased copper surface area produced a fruit-forward, textural and layered new-make spirit.

Following maturation, each cask emptied into the distillery’s American oak marrying vat for a period of resting. During this resting cycle, the distiller explained, the complexities of each individual cask mingled, creating the character of Bimber’s spirit.

Bimber spokesperson Matt McKay said that while the number of Bimber enthusiasts continues to grow, as a small craft distillery, they have struggled to keep up with the exponential demand for their products.

“As our largest ever release, we hope that Ex-bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4 will quench some of the continued global demand that we’re seeing for our London single malt whiskies,” he said. “As we look toward the seventh anniversary of our spirit, this new release is not only a perfect entry point into Bimber, it’s also a milestone for the developing style and quality of single malt whiskies that you’ll be seeing from us going forward.”

Ex-bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4 clocks in at 51.2% ABV and consists of 7,000 bottles. It’s available for a suggested retail price of £68 directly from the distillery and in a wide number of overseas markets.