There's something quietly thrilling about the new wave of English whisky. I'll admit, when I first heard distilleries south of the border were having a serious crack at single malt, I raised an eyebrow — old habits from years spent in Speyside and Islay. But the Cotswolds Bourbon Cask Single Malt has done a fine job of adjusting my perspective. This is a whisky that doesn't apologise for where it comes from, and at 59.1% ABV, it certainly doesn't hold back either.
Cotswolds Distillery has positioned itself as one of England's most credible single malt producers, and this bourbon cask expression is a compelling argument for why. It's a non-age-statement release, which in this case I read less as evasion and more as a declaration of intent — the distillery is choosing casks on quality, not calendar. At cask strength, you're getting the whisky more or less as it was drawn from the barrel, uncut and uncompromised. I appreciate that honesty.
The bourbon cask maturation steers this firmly into approachable territory. You can expect the kind of profile that American oak does so well with young, well-made spirit: vanilla, cereal sweetness, perhaps orchard fruit and a gentle spice. The high ABV means there's real density here, a richness that coats the glass and rewards patience. This isn't a whisky to rush. A few drops of water open it up considerably, and I'd recommend experimenting — at nearly 60%, the neat experience is bold, muscular even, but water reveals the more nuanced layers beneath.
Tasting Notes
I won't fabricate specific notes I haven't recorded in detail for this particular bottling. What I will say is that the bourbon cask and cask-strength combination points to a profile built around sweetness, weight, and intensity. If you enjoy whiskies that deliver robust cereal character with American oak influence, this sits comfortably in that space. It's English single malt doing what bourbon casks do best — amplifying the spirit's natural grain character rather than masking it.
The Verdict
At £71.25, this is fairly priced for a cask-strength single malt from a craft distillery. You're paying for quality of spirit and full-proof delivery, and the value is genuine. I've tasted far less interesting whisky at far higher prices from far more established names. The Cotswolds Bourbon Cask won't dethrone your favourite Speyside, nor is it trying to. What it does is stand on its own terms — confident, well-made, and unmistakably English. I'm scoring this 7.9 out of 10. It's a whisky that earns its place on the shelf and rewards the drinker who gives it proper attention. For anyone curious about what England is doing with single malt right now, this is an excellent place to start.
Best Served
Pour it neat first and sit with it — at 59.1%, you'll want to understand what you're working with before you start adjusting. Then add water, just a few drops at a time, until the spirit opens up and the sweetness comes forward. A splash of good spring water is all this needs. If you're feeling adventurous, it would make a remarkably punchy Highball with a quality soda and a twist of lemon peel, though frankly, at cask strength, I'd rather savour it slowly in a Glencairn.
