White Peak Distillery - Wire Works Whisky

Name: White Peak Distillery Wire Works Whisky Collection
Brand: White Peak Distillery
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Rating: 4.7 (89 reviews)

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White Peak Distillery Whisky Collection - Wire Works Whisky Range | Digital Distiller

White Peak Distillery - Wire Works Whisky Range

Derbyshire's first whisky distillery - lightly peated single malts from a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Founded in 2016 by Max and Claire Vaughan in the former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works on the banks of the River Derwent, White Peak is Derbyshire's first full-scale craft distillery. Located within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site and backing onto ancient Shining Cliff Woods, the distillery produces lightly peated single malts with distinctive character. Every stage of production happens on-site, from mashing to bottling, delivering complete Derbyshire provenance in every bottle.

Whisky & Core Range	Strength & Style	Cask Maturation	Tasting Profile	Perfect For
Wire Works Caduro The flagship - approachable lightly peated house style Provenance Core	46.8% ABV Non-chill filtered Natural colour Lightly peated (10 PPM)	Ex-Bourbon STR Wine Vatting of first-fill bourbon and STR (Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred) red wine casks	Nose: Green apple, banana, candy cane Palate: Citrus zest, cereal, tobacco, fruit depth Finish: Warm, spicy, wisp of smoke	• First-time White Peak drinkers • Lightly peated whisky introduction • Daily sipping • Understanding house style
Wire Works Bourbon Barrel Pure spirit showcase - oldest release to date Provenance Core	53.4% ABV Non-chill filtered Natural colour Higher strength	Ex-Bourbon Only First-fill American oak bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill Distillery, Kentucky	Nose: Vanilla cheesecake, white chocolate, fruit salad, lemon curd, peaches & cream Palate: Custard creams, lemon zest, chocolate peanuts, honey, gingerbread Finish: Apple crumble, murray mints, lime pickle, white pepper	• Spirit character enthusiasts • Bourbon cask lovers • Higher strength preference • Exploring with water
Wire Works Port Cask Rich fruit character - tawny port influence Provenance Core	50.2% ABV Non-chill filtered Natural colour Balanced strength	Tawny Port Ex-Bourbon Vatting of fresh tawny port barriques from Dias Cooperage, Porto and first-fill American oak bourbon barrels	Nose: Bakewell pudding, milk chocolate, cinder toffee, candied ginger Palate: Strawberries & cream, marzipan, lemon curd, vanilla fudge Finish: Cherry pie filling, bonfire toffee, hibiscus, eucalyptus	• Port cask enthusiasts • Fruity whisky preference • After-dinner sipping • Dessert pairing

Alex's Recommendation: Start with Caduro to understand White Peak's lightly peated house style - it's remarkably approachable with that gentle wisp of smoke. Bourbon Barrel showcases their spirit character at higher strength, perfect for exploring how water opens up complexity. Port Cask offers rich fruit depth for those who enjoy sherried or wine-cask whiskies but want something distinctly English.

Understanding White Peak's Wire Works Range

White Peak's Provenance Core Range demonstrates three distinct approaches to their lightly peated single malt. Caduro offers the benchmark house style through a blend of bourbon and STR wine casks. Bourbon Barrel presents pure spirit character with minimal cask interference. Port Cask adds rich fruit complexity through Portuguese cooperage. Together, these three expressions map the distillery's flavour territory comprehensively.

The Lightly Peated Distinction

White Peak stands almost alone among English distilleries in making lightly peated whisky their core style. Using barley peated to approximately 10 PPM (phenol parts per million), they achieve gentle smoke that complements rather than dominates. This sits between unpeated English whiskies and heavily peated Islay malts, offering accessible smoke character that works particularly well with their chosen cask types.

Wire Works Heritage and Location

The distillery occupies the former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works, which operated from 1876 to 1996 on the banks of the River Derwent. This industrial heritage influences everything from the whisky's name to the company motto (Virtus Patienta Veritas - Virtue of Patience and Truth) displayed on bottle neck labels. The UNESCO World Heritage Site location within the Derwent Valley Mills area connects the distillery to the birthplace of Britain's Industrial Revolution.

White Peak's Production Philosophy

Live Yeast and Long Fermentation

Every Tuesday, White Peak collects fresh, live brewer's yeast from nearby Thornbridge Brewery, specifically from their renowned Jaipur IPA. This unusual practice (rare in whisky production) combines with a slow four-day fermentation to develop complex flavour precursors. The approach reflects White Peak's flavour-first philosophy, prioritising character development over production efficiency.

Dr. Jim Swan's STR Casks

White Peak uses STR (Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred) wine casks developed by the late Dr. Jim Swan, who advised the distillery during its establishment. These ex-wine hogsheads undergo a specific reconditioning process that releases intense flavour while creating a charcoal filter between spirit and oak. Combined with first-fill bourbon barrels from Heaven Hill in Kentucky, this creates the distinctive Wire Works flavour profile.

Complete On-Site Production

From mashing through bottling, every stage happens at the Wire Works site in Ambergate. This full lifecycle Derbyshire provenance enables precise quality control and creates genuine connection between whisky and place. The distillery even incorporates former wire works pumping infrastructure into their condenser cooling system, using River Derwent water as the original factory did.

How to Choose Your Wire Works Whisky

For First-Time English Whisky Drinkers

Caduro offers the most accessible entry point with its 46.8% strength and balanced cask influence. The lightly peated character provides gentle smoke without overwhelming, while STR wine casks add fruit complexity. This expression demonstrates why White Peak has built such strong reputation despite being a relatively young distillery.

For Bourbon Cask Enthusiasts

Bourbon Barrel strips away wine cask influence to showcase pure spirit character matured in Heaven Hill barrels. At 53.4%, this higher strength suits those who enjoy exploring whisky with water, revealing different layers as dilution progresses. The expression shows how White Peak's spirit holds its own without active cask intervention.

For Wine Cask and Port Lovers

Port Cask delivers rich fruit character through tawny port barriques from Portugal's Dias Cooperage. The 50.2% strength sits between Caduro's approachability and Bourbon Barrel's intensity, offering balanced richness. This expression works particularly well after dinner or paired with desserts featuring chocolate, berries, or stone fruit.

Wire Works Whisky Serving and Pairing

Optimal Serving Recommendations

Caduro works beautifully neat at 46.8%, showing its fruit and smoke balance immediately. Bourbon Barrel benefits from exploration with water - try it neat first, then add drops progressively to find your preferred strength. Port Cask's 50.2% handles both approaches well, though a splash of water opens up the fruit complexity nicely.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Caduro pairs well with Derbyshire specialities like Bakewell tart or mature Stilton cheese. Bourbon Barrel's vanilla and citrus notes complement lemon desserts or light fruit puddings. Port Cask matches rich chocolate desserts, blue cheese, or dried fruit and nut combinations that echo its tawny port influence.

Special Occasions and Gifts

All three expressions work as gifts for whisky enthusiasts, each telling different aspects of the White Peak story. Caduro makes an excellent introduction to English whisky. Bourbon Barrel suits those who appreciate spirit-forward character. Port Cask appeals to wine cask lovers and creates impressive after-dinner service.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wire Works Whisky

What makes Wire Works whisky lightly peated, and how does it compare to Islay whiskies?

White Peak uses barley peated to approximately 10 PPM (phenol parts per million), delivering gentle smoke that enhances rather than dominates. By comparison, heavily peated Islay malts like Ardbeg or Laphroaig reach 50+ PPM. This light peat level makes Wire Works accessible to those new to peated whisky while offering complexity that unpeated expressions lack. The smoke appears as a "wisp" rather than a wall, complementing the fruit and oak character.

Why does White Peak use live yeast from Thornbridge Brewery?

Every Tuesday, White Peak collects fresh, live brewer's yeast from Thornbridge's Jaipur IPA production. This unusual practice (rare in whisky making) adds unique flavour complexity during their four-day fermentation. The brewery partnership reflects White Peak's commitment to local collaboration and flavour innovation, choosing character development over the convenience of dried distiller's yeast used by most distilleries.

What does "Provenance Core Range" mean for Wire Works whiskies?

The Provenance Core Range (Caduro, Bourbon Barrel, Port Cask) represents Wire Works' permanent expressions, distinguished from limited edition releases. "Provenance" emphasises complete Derbyshire production lifecycle - from mashing through bottling happening on-site at the Wire Works. These three expressions will remain available ongoing, unlike seasonal or experimental releases.

How old are Wire Works whiskies?

White Peak doesn't state age on their core range bottles, focusing instead on flavour maturity. The distillery began production in spring 2018, with their first release in February 2022 (approximately 3-4 years old). Bourbon Barrel is described as their "oldest release to date" using stock from around 6 years old. The approach prioritises when whisky tastes ready rather than hitting arbitrary age targets.

Are Wire Works whiskies chill-filtered or coloured?

No. All Wire Works whiskies are presented at natural colour and non-chill filtered. This means nothing is added (no spirit caramel colouring) and nothing is removed (no chill filtration to remove natural compounds that might cause cloudiness when cold). This preserves maximum flavour and texture, though the whisky may develop slight haze if stored in very cold conditions - this is completely natural and harmless.

What is the Wire Works site's historical significance?

The Johnson & Nephew Wire Works operated from 1876 to 1996, producing wire and cable as a major employer for 120 years. The site sits within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised globally for its role in the Industrial Revolution. White Peak's restoration brought these Victorian buildings back to productive use while honouring their heritage - even incorporating original pumping infrastructure into the distillery's cooling system.

Does White Peak make anything besides whisky?

Yes. White Peak also produces Shining Cliff Gin (named after the ancient woodland behind the distillery) and a cask-aged Derbyshire rum. However, Wire Works whisky represents their core focus and has garnered the most critical acclaim, including Gold medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition and Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition.

Which Wire Works expression should I buy first?

Start with Caduro to understand White Peak's signature lightly peated style at accessible 46.8% strength. If you particularly enjoy bourbon-matured whisky, Bourbon Barrel offers pure spirit character at higher strength. If you prefer wine or sherry cask whiskies, Port Cask delivers rich fruit complexity. All three are excellent, so your preference for cask type and strength should guide your choice.

Building Your Wire Works Collection

The Provenance Core Range forms an excellent foundation for understanding White Peak's approach. Starting with all three expressions lets you explore how different cask types express the same lightly peated spirit. Beyond the core range, White Peak releases limited editions exploring different cask finishes, experimental mash bills, and collaborative projects - these often sell out quickly as the distillery builds its collector following.

Limited Editions and Special Releases

Watch for special releases like the Necessary Evil Finish (imperial stout cask from Thornbridge Brewery), experimental grain bills using heritage Chevalier barley, or unique wine cask finishes. These limited bottlings showcase White Peak's innovative spirit while remaining rooted in their lightly peated house style. Most limited editions range from 500 to 2,000 bottles, making them genuinely scarce.

Why Choose White Peak Distillery Whiskies?

White Peak represents the new wave of English whisky - distilleries with clear identity, commitment to quality over quantity, and deep connection to their location. Their lightly peated style fills a genuine gap in the market between unpeated English whiskies and heavily smoky Scottish Islays. The combination of innovative production techniques (live yeast, long fermentation), quality cask selection, and complete on-site control creates whiskies that stand confidently alongside established whisky regions.

As founding members of the English Whisky Guild, Max and Claire Vaughan demonstrate commitment to building the category alongside growing their own distillery. Every Wire Works bottle connects drinkers to Derbyshire's industrial heritage, the Peak District's natural beauty, and the passion of a small team crafting spirits "the proper way" - with patience, truth, and uncompromising pursuit of flavour.

Visiting the Distillery: White Peak offers tours ranging from 60-minute distillery experiences to 90-minute whisky-focused tours. The riverside location next to Shining Cliff Woods provides beautiful setting, and you can see the entire production process from mashing to maturation. The on-site shop offers distillery-exclusive releases not available elsewhere, including hand-filled cask samples.