There was a time, not so long ago, when the phrase "English single malt" would have drawn blank stares at any serious whisky gathering. That time has passed. Cotswolds Distillery has been one of the principal reasons why, and their Founder's Choice bottling — presented at a robust 59.1% ABV — represents a confident statement of intent from a producer that refuses to be dismissed as a novelty.
The Founder's Choice is a non-age-statement release, which in this context is less about concealing youth and more about the distillery's freedom to blend from their maturing stock for flavour rather than a number on a label. At this strength, it's clear Cotswolds want you to experience the spirit with minimal interference. This is cask strength whisky that doesn't apologise for itself, and at £67.75 it sits in that interesting middle ground — accessible enough for the curious, serious enough to reward attention.
Tasting Notes
I won't pretend to offer a clinical breakdown of every aroma here — what I will say is that at 59.1%, this is a whisky that demands you spend time with it. The strength carries the flavour rather than overwhelming it, and a few drops of water open things up considerably. English single malts from the Cotswolds tend to lean into rich, malty character with a certain cereal sweetness that distinguishes them from their Scottish counterparts. Expect warmth, depth, and the kind of intensity that cask strength devotees actively seek out. This is not a wallflower dram.
The Verdict
I've watched the English whisky movement with genuine interest over the past decade, and Cotswolds has consistently delivered bottles that stand on their own merit rather than trading on geography as a gimmick. The Founder's Choice is, to my mind, among their more compelling releases. It has weight and conviction. The cask strength presentation shows confidence in the liquid, and rightly so — this is a whisky that holds together at full power without becoming aggressive or one-dimensional.
At 7.7 out of 10, this scores well. It loses a fraction for being NAS in a market where transparency increasingly matters, and I'd welcome more detail from the distillery on the cask makeup. But those are minor quibbles. What you're getting here is a genuinely well-made English single malt at natural strength, priced fairly for what it delivers. For anyone still sceptical about whisky south of the border, this is the bottle I'd put in front of them.
Best Served
Pour it neat first — always — and let it sit for five minutes. Then add water, slowly, a few drops at a time. At 59.1% you have plenty of room to find the sweet spot. A half teaspoon of water transforms this dram without diminishing it. I'd avoid ice entirely here; the strength is part of the experience, and chilling it would mute what makes this bottle distinctive. A proper Glencairn glass, a quiet evening, and patience — that's all this whisky asks of you.
