Whittaker's First Edition English Whisky: Yorkshire Dales' First Single Malt
Bronze Medal World Whiskies Awards 2025 | First whisky from Yorkshire Dales | 4 years old | Golden Promise barley | 48.3% ABV | Only 2,277 bottles | Quarter cask finished
Key Product Information
- Distillery: Whittaker's Distillery
- Location: Harewell House Farm, Dacre Banks, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Region: Yorkshire Dales, England
- Type: English Single Malt Whisky
- Age: 4 years (distilled 2020)
- ABV: 48.3% (96.6 proof)
- Volume: 70cl (700ml)
- Cask: Ex-bourbon American oak, finished in quarter casks
- Barley: Predominantly Golden Promise heritage variety
- Released: 1st August 2024
- Bottles Produced: 2,277
- Awards: Bronze Medal World Whiskies Awards 2025
- Presentation: Includes presentation box
- Expert Score: 9/10 Dramface
Tasting Notes
Nose
Light golden in colour. Bold with creamy caramel, spicy notes, and nutty undertones. Fresh vanilla sweetness emerges alongside apricot and orchard fruits.
Palate
Creamy caramel balanced with spicy character. Old fashioned toffee and apricot jam with gentle oakiness. Smooth, well-integrated alcohol despite the elevated strength.
Finish
Fresh vanilla lingers with old fashioned toffee sweetness and apricot. Medium length with warming spices and a honeyed quality.
What Makes Whittaker's First Edition Special
- Historic First: The first single malt whisky ever produced in the Yorkshire Dales, laid down in November 2019
- Golden Promise Barley: Made predominantly with this heritage barley variety, known for richer, oilier, more complex character than modern varieties
- Quarter Cask Innovation: Re-casked from first-fill ex-bourbon into quarter casks to accelerate flavour development and add intensity
- Family Farm Spirit: Water from the Harewell spring on the farm, barley from nearby Poplars Farm, Ferrensby
- Limited Availability: Only 2,277 bottles produced from casks filled April-June 2020
- Expert Recognition: Bronze Medal World Whiskies Awards 2025, 9/10 score from Dramface
Understanding Quarter Cask Maturation
Quarter casks are approximately 125 litres, roughly half the size of a standard hogshead. This smaller size creates a much higher ratio of wood surface area to spirit, dramatically accelerating the maturation process.
For Whittaker's First Edition, the whisky was initially matured in first-fill ex-bourbon American oak casks at 72% ABV. After sampling at 3 years, the distillery decided to finish the whisky in quarter casks, tempering the spirit to 63.5% ABV for optimal maturation. This finishing period added:
- Accelerated oak influence: More contact with wood means faster extraction of vanilla, toffee, and spice compounds
- Enhanced colour development: The deeper amber hue achieved in less time
- Concentrated flavour: Bold, vibrant character that would take much longer in standard casks
- Increased complexity: Layered notes from both the initial bourbon maturation and quarter cask finish
This two-stage maturation approach delivered a whisky with depth and character beyond its 4 years, showcasing why quarter casks have been used historically by distilleries like Laphroaig to create distinctive expressions.
The Golden Promise Difference
Golden Promise is a heritage barley variety developed in the 1950s through gamma radiation of the Maythorpe variety. It dominated Scottish whisky production in the 1970s and early 1980s, accounting for 70% of spring barley grown in Scotland by 1977.
Why Golden Promise Matters
While modern barley varieties like Laureate yield around 415 litres of alcohol per tonne, Golden Promise produces only 380-395 litres and costs approximately 20% more. Despite lower yields, distillers choose it for character:
- Richer mouthfeel: Higher protein content creates a gutsy, oily, creamy texture
- Complex flavour: Delivers sweet, soft, clean wort with enhanced depth
- Heritage character: The variety behind classic whiskies from the 1970s-80s golden age
- Proven pedigree: Still used by The Macallan in their whisky blends for its essential character
Whittaker's First Edition showcases Golden Promise's contribution: the creamy caramel notes, rich mouthfeel, and apricot character that distinguish it from whiskies made with modern, high-yield varieties.
Perfect For
Whisky Enthusiasts Who Enjoy:
- Bourbon-cask matured whiskies with elevated strength
- Heritage barley varieties and traditional production
- English whisky exploration and limited editions
- Whiskies with distinctive regional character
- Quarter cask expressions with accelerated maturation
Occasions:
- Celebrating Yorkshire whisky history
- Gifts for whisky collectors
- Comparative tastings of English distilleries
- Special occasions requiring presentation packaging
- Building a library of award-winning English whiskies
How to Enjoy Whittaker's First Edition
Neat
At 48.3% ABV, this whisky has excellent integration. Serve at room temperature in a Glencairn or tulip glass to appreciate its creamy caramel character.
With Water
A small splash of spring water can open up additional spice notes and enhance the apricot fruit character while softening the alcohol.
Food Pairing
Excellent with Yorkshire pudding, roasted nuts, caramel desserts, or sharp cheddar cheese. The toffee notes complement butterscotch or praline sweets.
About Whittaker's Distillery
Founded in 2014 by Toby and Jane Whittaker at their family home, Harewell House Farm in the heart of Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, Whittaker's began as a gin distillery in 2015. The original distillery was a converted 1950s pig shed, which still houses storage, bottling, and labelling operations.
In 2019, the distillery completed a purpose-built facility to welcome visitors and begin whisky production. The new distillery features equipment from American Beverage Equipment (ABE), including a 1,000 litre mash tun, two 1,000 litre fermenters, and two 1,000 litre copper stills named Eve and Esmerelda.
Whittaker's laid down its first barrel of single malt English whisky in November 2019, making it the first ever distillery to produce single malt whisky in the Yorkshire Dales. The distillery uses water from the Harewell spring on the farm and barley grown at nearby Poplars Farm, Ferrensby, owned by family members Andrew and Ione Cumming (née Whittaker).
The distillery's casks are predominantly ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-rum, with innovative finishes planned including vintage port. Nidderdale means "Valley of sparkling water" due to the multitude of springs in the area, and has a strong historical connection to brewing and malting barley.
The Making of First Edition
Whittaker's First Edition represents a carefully planned maturation journey:
Initial Maturation (April-June 2020)
New make spirit was filled into first-fill ex-bourbon American oak casks at 72% ABV. The predominantly Golden Promise barley, malted and milled at Thomas Fawcett & Sons in Castleford, West Yorkshire, provided the rich, creamy base character.
Three-Year Assessment
After sampling at 3 years old, both the flavour and colour profiles were present, but the distillery team made the innovative decision to finish the whisky in quarter casks to further elevate both characteristics and accelerate maturation.
Quarter Cask Finishing
The spirit was tempered down to 63.5% ABV for optimal maturation in quarter casks. This smaller cask size provided more oak contact, adding depth of colour and intensity of flavour while maintaining the creamy character from the Golden Promise barley.
August 2024 Release
Bottled at 48.3% ABV with a total of 2,277 bottles produced, each presented in a presentation box. The whisky went on to win Bronze Medal at the World Whiskies Awards 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is this called "First Edition" rather than the distillery's first release?
A: Whittaker's has had three releases: First Release Cask Strength 61.1% ABV, this 2024 First Edition 48.3% ABV, and the 2024 Fireside Chapter. "First Edition" refers to the 2024 edition specifically, distinct from their cask strength First Release.
Q: What makes Golden Promise barley special?
A: Golden Promise is a heritage variety from the 1960s that yields less alcohol per tonne but produces richer, oilier, more complex spirit. It dominated Scottish whisky in the 1970s and is still chosen by distilleries like The Macallan for its gutsy, creamy character.
Q: How does quarter cask finishing affect the whisky?
A: Quarter casks are about 125 litres, half the size of a hogshead. The higher wood-to-spirit ratio accelerates maturation, adding colour, vanilla, toffee, and oak character faster than standard casks.
Q: Is this suitable for beginners to whisky?
A: At 48.3% ABV, this has more strength than entry-level whiskies, but the creamy character and smooth integration make it approachable. The sweetness of caramel and toffee notes balance the alcohol warmth.
Q: Will there be more bottles of First Edition?
A: This specific release was limited to 2,277 bottles. Whittaker's continues to release whisky as it matures, so watch for future releases with different cask finishes and age statements.
Q: How should I store this whisky?
A: Store upright in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations. Once opened, the whisky will maintain quality for several years.
Whittaker's Place in English Whisky
English whisky is one of the world's fastest-growing whisky categories, with over 50 active distilleries across England. Whittaker's Distillery holds a unique position as the first to produce single malt whisky in the Yorkshire Dales, a region with deep historical connections to brewing and malting.
The distillery's choice to use Golden Promise barley and quarter cask finishing demonstrates the innovative spirit of English whisky makers, who are not bound by the strict regional regulations that govern Scotch whisky production. This freedom allows experimentation with heritage varieties, unusual cask finishes, and creative maturation techniques.
With only 4 years of age, Whittaker's First Edition showcases how English distilleries can create characterful whiskies through intelligent cask management and quality raw materials, rather than relying solely on extended maturation periods.
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