West Midlands Distillery Single Malt Bourbon Cask

WMD Single Malt Bourbon Cask, The Distillery

Founded in 2017 by a family steeped in spirits craft, West Midlands Distillery was built on a dream: to one day distil their own single malt whisky. Originally producing gin, rum, and vodka, the team laid down their first full‑term single malt cask in 2021. With four copper pot stills – Doris, Lenny, Patricia, and Sharon – they experiment with heritage grains, yeast strains, and brewing techniques in a single-barrel programme that showcases rich, fruit‑forward character. In August 2024 they bottled the region’s first-ever whisky, and in July 2025 celebrated their inaugural general release – complete with custom hand‑painted glass packaging and a map of Birmingham and the Black Country – marking a milestone for English whisky.

WMD Single Malt Bourbon Cask, Production Method

This single malt begins with Laureate and Plumage Archer barley, using different heritage strains to accentuate flavour complexity. The mash ferments over seven days with carefully chosen yeasts, producing a wash bursting with fruit. It’s then double‑distilled in small copper pot stills, with only the clean “heart” of the run kept – the heads and tails are discarded to deliver purity and precision. The new make (spirit) is filled into first-fill American oak bourbon casks – chosen for their ability to impart rich vanilla, honeyed sweetness, and vibrant malt character.

WMD Single Malt Bourbon Cask, Tasting Notes

Visually golden, the nose opens with warm vanilla custard, caramel, and baking spices with subtle orchard fruit hints. On the palate, expect creamy toffee, sweet dried fig, malt sugar, and an undercurrent of cherry and plum. The influence of the bourbon cask brings honeyed vanilla and coconut tones, rounded out by gentle oak spice. The finish is smooth, lingering with soft caramel, candied fruit, and a touch of earthy warmth.

Suggested pairing: Try this whisky alongside creamy blue cheese or dark chocolate – its sweetness and depth beautifully complement those bold flavours. Or, for a daring cocktail, a dash of smoked saline creates a “barrel‑smoke Old Fashioned” that accentuates its woody character.