Henstone Distillery Ex-Champagne Cask Single Malt Whisky, 70cl
Champagne casks are rarely used for whisky, and this release shows why they deserve more attention. Henstone took spirit distilled in 2021 and 2022, matured it for four years in ex-Jim Beam bourbon casks, then moved it into a 225-litre French oak barrique that had held Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne, made from 100% Chardonnay. The bourbon casks laid down the vanilla and soft oak; the Champagne barrique has added crisp orchard fruit, citrus and a bright, lively acidity.
Nose: Crisp green apple, white pear and white grapes.
Palate: Grapefruit, white peach, ginger and pear, with a lively, prickly acidity that almost fizzes on the tongue.
Finish: Toasted almond, soft oak tannins, white pepper and a clean, mineral freshness.
We think this is one of the most distinctive whiskies Henstone has released. Most wine-cask whiskies lean towards red fruit and dried fruit; this one goes the other way, towards fresh orchard fruit and citrus. It suits drinkers who like a lighter, livelier single malt, and anyone curious to taste what Champagne oak does to whisky. At 46% Alc., it works neat, and a drop of water is there if you want it.
Like every Henstone whisky, it is bottled at natural colour and without chill filtration, and each bottle carries a handwritten batch label. This first release runs to 374 bottles.
Henstone Distillery was founded in 2017 in Oswestry, Shropshire, and makes its own wash on site before distilling in Hilda, its 1,000-litre pot and column still.
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