A Derbyshire distillery returns with its award-winning whisky completed in imperial stout casks for the third consecutive 12 months.
White Peak Distillery has introduced the discharge of its third Wire Works Essential Evil End, a limited-edition single malt whisky bottled at 51.3% ABV. The expression combines the distillery’s lightly-peated spirit with a singular ending course of utilizing casks from neighboring Thornbridge Brewery.
The whisky undergoes twin maturation, beginning in ex-bourbon barrels earlier than transferring to STR casks that beforehand held Thornbridge’s Essential Evil imperial stout. These ending casks have their very own journey – initially maturing Wire Works whisky, then housing the award-winning stout, earlier than returning to White Peak for the ultimate eight-month end.
Wire Works Essential Evil End Manufacturing Course of
The collaboration between White Peak and Thornbridge extends past barrel sharing. The distillery makes use of Thornbridge’s spent brewer’s yeast in all fermentations, gathering it weekly as a part of their manufacturing routine.
“We’ve had a powerful relationship with Thornbridge since we started. We use their spent brewer’s yeast in all our fermentations – gathering it weekly has turn into a part of our distilling routine,” mentioned Max Vaughan, co-founder of White Peak. “Essential Evil End brings the story full circle: whisky that begins life with Thornbridge yeast, and finishes its journey of their stout casks.”
The STR casks underwent a particular remedy – shaved, toasted, and recharred – earlier than their numerous makes use of. Tom Lindsey, White Peak’s whisky lead and model ambassador, famous that the crew left headspace within the casks through the eight-month ending interval to encourage refined oxidation. “The result’s a splendidly advanced whisky with mellow, fruit-forward and savoury notes.”
Tasting Profile and Availability
In keeping with the official tasting notes, the whisky presents candy and savory traits with hazelnuts, freshly roasted espresso, darkish chocolate, dates, cranberry, and “a mild wisp of smoke”. The nostril options vanilla fudge, milk chocolate digestive biscuits, and baked apple pie, whereas the palate affords cacao nibs, Black Forest gateaux, and salted caramel. The end delivers wealthy darkish chocolate, tobacco, and darkish cherries with a contact of smoke.
This launch follows two profitable editions. The inaugural 2022 bottling earned Gold on the World World Whisky Masters. Thornbridge’s Essential Evil stout itself gained the 2024 World Beer Awards for world’s finest flavored beer.
The whisky launches July 25 on the distillery and thru UK retailers together with Grasp of Malt and The Whisky Trade with a beneficial retail worth of £69.
White Peak continues to construct its repute within the English whisky class, with current accolades together with a number of gold medals on the 2025 World Whiskies Awards throughout numerous expressions.
