Bimber unveils oldest small batch whisky
London-based distillery Bimber has launched Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4 – its oldest small batch single malt whisky to date.
The Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4 has been crafted from a vatting of the distillery’s oldest first-fill American oak ex-Bourbon casks that were first laid down in 2017 – Bimber’s second year of production. The 51.2% ABV batch consists of 7,000 bottles, and will be available for RRP £68 (US$84.44) directly from the distillery from Thursday 20 April. The release will also be available in a number of overseas markets across Europe, as well as Asia and the US. Bimber spokesperson Matt McKay said: “Whilst the number of Bimber enthusiasts continues to grow, as a small craft distillery we have struggled to keep up with the exponential demand for our products. “As our largest ever release, we hope that Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4 will quench some of the continued global demand that we’re seeing for our London single malt whiskies.” He added: “Similarly to our other small-batch releases Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 4 continues to offer an insight into our maturing single malt whisky stock – as we look toward the seventh anniversary of our spirit, this new release is not only a perfect entry point into Bimber, it’s also a milestone for the developing style and quality of single malt whiskies that you’ll be seeing from us going forward.” The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single-farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised alembic pot stills which possess an increased copper surface area, and produce a fruit-forward, textural and layered new make spirit. Following maturation, each cask was disgorged into the distillery’s American oak marrying vat for a period of resting. During this resting cycle the complexities of each individual cask are said to ‘mingle’, creating an ensemble which possesses 'balance and depth' whilst retaining the character of Bimber’s distinctive spirit. In February, Bimber partnered with British department store Selfridges to release a single malt whisky finished in Matusalem Sherry casks.