Filey Bay Moscatel Sherry Cask: Rare Yorkshire Single Malt with Spanish Sweetness
Limited Release | 100% Yorkshire-grown barley | Moscatel sherry finish | 47.3% ABV | Solera-style maturation
Key Product Information
- Distillery: Spirit of Yorkshire, Hunmanby
- Region: Yorkshire, England
- Type: English Single Malt Whisky
- ABV: 47.3% (94.6 proof)
- Volume: 70cl (700ml)
- Cask: Ex-Moscatel Sherry Hogsheads
- Barley: 100% Yorkshire-grown
- Filtration: Non-chill filtered
- Natural colour: Yes
- Production: Solera-style fractional blending
Tasting Notes
Nose
Floral elegance from Moscatel grapes. Light and delicate with honeyed sweetness, dried apricot, and gentle wine notes.
Palate
Soft, sweet, and fruity. Chocolate-dipped orange slices, toasted almonds, honeyed caramel, and fresh apricot. Yorkshire barley character shines through.
Finish
Medium length with lingering sweetness. Dried fruit, gentle spice, and coastal influence. Elegant and refined.
What Makes Filey Bay Moscatel Special
- Rare Cask Finish: Moscatel sherry casks are unusual in whisky maturation, making this a unique expression. While Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso are common, Moscatel brings distinctive floral aromatics
- Coastal Connection: Moscatel grapes thrive in sandy coastal soils in Spain, creating a natural parallel with Filey Bay's Yorkshire coastal location
- Solera-Style Consistency: Fractional blending ensures consistent flavour profile while adding depth and complexity with each batch
- Field to Bottle: Complete control from barley growing through bottling, ensuring exceptional quality and traceability
Understanding Moscatel Sherry Casks
Moscatel (or Muscat) is a grape variety known for intense floral aromatics and honeyed sweetness. In the sherry region of Jerez, Spain, Moscatel grapes grow in sandy soils near the coast, producing wines with distinctive character.
These casks impart different qualities than more common sherry types. Pedro Ximénez brings rich, raisin-like sweetness, while Oloroso adds nutty, oxidative notes. Moscatel contributes delicate floral perfume, fresh fruit character, and elegant sweetness that complements Yorkshire whisky's light, creamy style perfectly.
Perfect For
Whisky Enthusiasts Who Enjoy:
- Sherry-finished single malts
- Elegant, refined whiskies
- Sweet, fruity flavour profiles
- Limited edition releases
- English whisky exploration
Occasions:
- After-dinner sipping
- Special celebrations
- Whisky collector additions
- Thoughtful gifts for whisky lovers
- Pairing with desserts
How to Enjoy Filey Bay Moscatel
Neat
Best served at room temperature in a Glencairn glass to appreciate the Moscatel influence and floral aromatics.
With Water
A few drops open up additional fruit notes and soften the 47.3% ABV without diminishing the sherry character.
Food Pairing
Excellent with dark chocolate, dried apricots, almond cake, crème brûlée, or strong blue cheese.
The Solera-Style Approach
Every time Filey Bay Moscatel Sherry Cask is bottled, the casks holding the whisky are incrementally topped up with older casks carefully selected from the warehouse. This fractional blending method, inspired by traditional Spanish solera systems, achieves two important goals.
First, it maintains flavour consistency across batches, ensuring each bottle delivers the expected Moscatel-influenced profile. Second, it allows the whisky to continuously gain age, depth, and complexity as older liquid is gradually incorporated into each release.
About Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery
Founded in 2016 in the coastal village of Hunmanby, Spirit of Yorkshire became the first distillery in Yorkshire to sell single malt whisky in 2019. As farmers, brewers, and distillers, the team controls every stage from growing barley to bottling.
Their sustainable farming approach uses cover crops and direct drilling to protect soil structure and keep carbon underground, ensuring the land and barley quality for future generations. The distillery overlooks Filey Bay, where the North Sea coastal environment influences their whisky's unique character.
English Whisky and Sherry Cask Maturation
English whisky producers have embraced innovative cask finishing techniques, often experimenting with unusual cask types that Scottish distilleries might overlook. The use of Moscatel sherry casks exemplifies this creative approach.
England's warmer climate can accelerate maturation compared to Scotland, allowing younger whiskies to develop complexity more quickly. The lighter, fruitier house style of many English distilleries pairs particularly well with wine and sherry cask finishes, creating balanced, elegant expressions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is Moscatel different from other sherry casks?
A: Moscatel brings floral, perfumed notes and elegant sweetness, unlike the richer Pedro Ximénez or nuttier Oloroso. It's much rarer in whisky maturation, making this expression unique.
Q: What is the solera method?
A: It's a fractional blending system where casks are progressively topped up with older whisky. This maintains consistency while building complexity over time.
Q: Is this suitable for someone new to sherry-finished whisky?
A: Absolutely. The Moscatel influence is elegant and approachable, not as intense as some sherry bombs. It's an excellent introduction to sherry-finished whiskies.
Q: How does this compare to the Filey Bay Flagship?
A: The Flagship showcases bourbon cask maturation with vanilla and fruit. The Moscatel adds sherry sweetness, dried fruit, and floral complexity while maintaining the light Yorkshire character.
Q: Should I store this upright or on its side?
A: Always store whisky bottles upright. Cork contact with high-proof spirit can cause deterioration and off-flavours.
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