Richard-ModernDrinking
Bimber The First Single Malt
Single Malt — England
Reviewed
December 21, 2019 (edited June 24, 2021)
The whisky in my glass comes from a set of six samples you can buy from Bimber in London and while it isn’t identified as being exactly the whisky in this bottle, it does share the same PX-cask heritage and is bottled at the same strength of 54.2%. Only the words “Test Batch” on the label suggest it might not be identical, but let’s assume it’s close enough to warrant a review here rather than under a separate entry. At any rate, it’s excellent, consistent from nose to finish with a distinct milk chocolate profile and tasting nothing like a typical young spirit blasted with an overpowering sherry cask. In addition to creamy chocolate, the nose is milky toffee, butterscotch, salted caramel ice cream and nutmeg. Those flavors continue in the mouth, with the addition of cinnamon, chocolate Bourbon biscuits and coffee. The aftertaste is like licking a bowl of the aforementioned ice-cream - yum! For a three-year-old whisky, this is quite an achievement, and even if the flavor profile is ultimately a little narrow, it’s less so than many a much older sherry cask from a more established distillery. A debut that swaggers with the confidence of an East End barrow boy.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@worldwhiskies95 That’s the one I reviewed under the Bimber STR entry.
@PBMichiganWolverine in a good way
@worldwhiskies95 is that a good thing? Or too sweet ?
Was given a bimber sherry cask sample last night at drammers and it tasted like liquid candy.
@PBMichiganWolverine. Thanks for the tip! Definitely a bottle I'd like to have.
@jonwilkinson7309 although this inaugural release was only 1000 bottles and now impossible to get, their follow up Bimber Charred is out and easily available.
@Richard-ModernDrinking The Lakes Distillery up in Lakes District had just this summer released their first...was really well received, and likewise sold out in minutes
@jonwilkinson7309 The new English distilleries in general are quite promising - I was impressed by the single malt I tried from the Cotswolds Distillery. @PBMichiganWolverine One of my London drinking companions (my mother’s hairdresser!) scored a bottle of this.
Their inaugural release sold out in minutes.
It sounds lovely. even the bottle and box are beautiful. I'll be keeping my eye out for future Bimber releases. Is this indicative of a burgeoning London or UK craft. While I consider myself reasonably knowledgeable about the domestic US craft scene, I know little about craft efforts elsewhere. It may be time to branch out!