Circumstance Distillery Organic Single Grain Rye Whisky, 70cl
This is the third release of Circumstance's organic rye whisky, and a clear change of direction from the second. The earlier bottling was matured in a single ex-tawny port cask; this one spent 50 months in a combination of new European oak, ex-bourbon and new Andean oak. With no wine cask in the mix, this release is about the rye and the oak.
The recipe is the same: 51% organic malted rye and 49% organic malted barley, fermented for 14 days on a mead yeast and distilled through a copper whisky hood and a four-plate column. Rye at this proportion typically brings peppery spice and a drier, grainier edge than barley alone, and the long fermentation on a brewing yeast is typical of how Circumstance build flavour before the spirit reaches a cask.
The three casks each play a part. New European oak typically adds spice and firm structure; ex-bourbon brings vanilla and softer sweetness; and new Andean oak, an uncommon choice in whisky, adds a drier, spicier wood character. At 47,9% Alc., it works neat, and a drop of water is entirely optional.
We think rye is where English distillers are doing some of their most interesting work, and this is a good example of why. Bottling 3:11:1:36:50.
Circumstance Distillery is an organic whisky distillery in Bristol, run by Liam Hirtand Head Distiller Andrew Osborne.. Their approach puts flavour first: multi-grain mash bills, brewing yeasts and long fermentations, with the casks adding the final layer. They choose not to make single malts, and this rye shows what that freedom allows.
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