Cooper King Port-Bound English Single Malt Whisky, 70cl

• An unplanned extra four months: Originally a Christmas 2025 release, the whisky simply wasn't ready. Will Dobson, Cooper King's brewer and distiller, held it back until it was. That patience is audible in the glass.
• Three cask types: NEOC and Cognac maturation followed by a tawny port finish is an unusual combination. The result is a whisky with more structural complexity than most port-finish releases at this price point.
• Heritage barley, floor-malted: All Cooper King whisky is made from English Maris Otter barley, floor-malted at Warminster Maltings, Britain's oldest working maltings.
• 924 bottles only: Each Expedition Series release is drawn from a specific parcel of casks. Once gone, this expression will not be repeated.
• Net zero energy distillery: Cooper King is England's only net zero energy whisky distillery, running entirely on renewable power. £1 from every bottle goes to Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

Q: What is the Cooper King Expedition Series?

A: The Expedition Series is Cooper King's programme of limited whisky releases, each drawing from a specific selection of casks in their Yorkshire warehouse. Every release has a distinct character and is bottled in small quantities; the Spring 2026 release, Port-Bound, is limited to 924 bottles. Once sold out, the expression is not repeated.

Q: What does tawny port cask finishing do to a whisky?

A: Tawny port casks contribute dried fruit sweetness, a hint of nuttiness, and a warming richness to the spirit. In Port-Bound, the small, fresh tawny port casks have added muscovado sugar, dried stone fruit, and a coffee-and-dark-chocolate quality to the finish. The effect is indulgent without becoming syrupy, because the NEOC and Cognac maturation provides a drier structural backbone underneath.

Q: Is Cooper King whisky suitable for someone who normally drinks Scotch?

A: It's a good fit for Scotch drinkers who enjoy port-finished expressions such as GlenDronach or Ben Nevis port wood finishes. Port-Bound has a similar profile: rich, fruit-forward, with a long finish. The main difference is the English character - a little lighter in body, with the Maris Otter barley adding its own distinct maltiness.

Q: How limited is Port-Bound and will it be available again?

A: Port-Bound is limited to 924 bottles worldwide. Each Expedition Series release is drawn from a unique parcel of casks; once this release sells out, this particular whisky will not be produced again. Cooper King will release future Expedition Series expressions, but each will have its own distinct character.

Q: Where is Cooper King Distillery located?

A: Cooper King is based in Sutton-on-the-Forest, North Yorkshire, approximately ten miles north of York. The distillery sits in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Visits and tours are available; Digital Distiller lists Cooper King's distillery tours if you'd like to go.