Ellers Farm completes £304,000 cask programme

Ricky Gervais-backed Ellers Farm Distillery has concluded its Founders Release cask investment programme, with 38 200-litre casks priced at £8,000 (US$10,000) each.

The North Yorkshire-based distillery believes this to be the highest average sale price of any first cask release programme in the UK. Ellers Farm’s English single malt whisky is part of a collaboration with North Yorkshire brewery T&R Theakston, which was first announced last year. The £8,000 price tag includes purchasing the cask, 200 litres of new make spirit, warehouse storage, insuring and management of the cask for five years. Additional fees will apply for bottling. Ellers Farm founder Chris Fraser said: “We’re doing something truly innovative and it’s great to see so many people interested in that story and support us as a new whisky distillery by purchasing casks through our Founders Release programme. “We are on a journey to show the real possibilities of English whisky and we can’t wait to raise a glass with each of our Founders Release owners.” The Bairn, the distillery’s new-make spirit, won Gold at The World Whisky Masters 2023. Simon Theakston, joint managing director of T&R Theakston, said: “We’re very proud to be working alongside the team at Ellers Farm to create this award-winning toast to Yorkshire, which combines not just expertise but also ingredients from across the county. “The reception that the Founders Release has received has been fantastic and demonstrates that, like us, many people are excited about what will become a new Yorkshire whisky of unimpeachable provenance, authenticity, and character.” As well as the Founders Release whiskies, Ellers Farm has launched the Evolution Collection, a limited edition range with only 500 sets available. It includes The Bairn at zero, six, 12, 18 and 24 months, to showcase each stage of its flavour evolution. Last month, English comedian and actor Ricky Gervais become a co-owner of the brand through a ‘major’ undisclosed investment.