During this tasting we sampled their Vodka that will be released soon, New make spirit and 6 day matured spirit.
Spirit of Birmingham Vodka 43% ABV
Appearance
@ 43% ABV it’s quite viscous, some decent thick legs. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
oooh, chocolate coated cereal, well toasted bread, cereals and grains, apricots, this is different, rather intriguing tbh. #thewhiskeychaps
I’m getting an almost seaweed aroma, rye ryvita’s, wood varnish. #thewhiskeychaps
I had a cheeky sniff of the new make earlier (seaweed)🤤 #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) October 21, 2021
Palate
The extra grains really bring deeper darker flavours. Decent mouthfeel I will say, and yes rye ryvitas, seeded bread as @whiskeychap said, a little vegetal, seaweed, black coffee, it’s even bordering Smokey too. #thewhiskeychaps
From unmalted flaked barley and a little from the rye… the rye is in there as our little gift to the yeast #thewhiskeychaps
— Spirit of Birmingham (@SpiritofBrum) October 21, 2021
My thoughts
Over the years iv’e tried generic vodka’s, and decided that vodka just wasn’t for me. However, recently iv’e tasted some craft vodka’s, and been very impressed, to the point that i’d buy a bottle of them. This Spirit of Birmingham vodka sits firmly within the “craft” vodka category, and definitely has a whisky feel to it. It’s different, it’s innovative and in my opinion it’s very nice, and i would buy a bottle, and it’s going to be released soon.
New make spirit 58% ABV
Appearance
New make spirit – Again decent swirl line with very slow running legs. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
We’ve tasted over a dozen new make spirits, from various barley and yeast strains, and this is different again, like the vodka. #thewhiskeychaps
Seaweed, well toasted bread, a touch of menthol in here, there are sweet strawberries hiding in the background. It’s becoming sweeter, with a dustiness too. Those red/green hard boiled apple sweets, it’s Smokey too. #thewhiskeychaps
Strawberry cheesecake, apricots and guava too now. #thewhiskeychaps
Palate
The aromas on the nose come across on the palate, yes the ABV is making it spicy, but I’m getting chilli’s and more stoned fruits. The Smoke envelops the fruit, apricots, and nectarines mainly, and a slightly meaty flavour. #thewhiskeychap
The palate soon acclimatises to the ABV here, 58%, and it is different to other new makes we’ve tried in the past, this has darker heavier flavours mixed with the fruits, it’s really nice #thewhiskeychaps
Finish
That’s definitely becoming more Jammy, blackcurrant I’d say, and a touch of grapefruit. #thewhiskeychaps
I'm with you on the jam, I don't get the grapefruit (which I appreciate!) #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) October 21, 2021
My thoughts
As the Whiskey Chaps we have tasted over a dozen new make spirits, probably nearer 15-16 to be honest. We’ve tasted them with different barley and yeast combinations, we have a fair idea of what to expect when tasting a new one, until we got to this one.
With the extra grains this new make comes across more like an aged spirit or even whisky, the range of aromas and flavours already here are quite surprising and exciting, and i cant wait to try the whisky when it comes of age.
6 day aged spirit 58% ABV
Appearance
Swirl line beads up straight away, and it’s a mix of stubborn teardrops and medium thick legs. #thewhiskeychaps
Nose
The new make spirit is still quite evident here, smells spicy tbh, that smoke is here still, foresty, gin botanical type aromas. Cereals and grains again, flapjack, pecan pastry? #thewhiskeychaps
Palate
I’m definitely getting a change from the new make, thought the new make is obviously evident. I’d say more vanilla, spicy vanilla, the smoke is heavier, ginger root, apricots, dark chocolate. #thewhiskeychaps
The menthol is now coming through, the ryvitas too like the vodka, brown sugar, even black liquorice. #thewhiskeychaps
Indeed, there's a bitter chocolate flavour going on #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) October 21, 2021
Finish
It really does linger, the ABV at this stage is part to blame I’m sure, but the spiciness really does hang around for a while, perhaps a hint of salinity on my drying lips too. #thewhiskeychaps
Because we aren't going to char the barrels, we will have a bit more control over the extraction #thatstheplan #thewhiskeychaps #spiritofbirmingham
— Spirit of Birmingham (@SpiritofBrum) October 21, 2021
My thoughts
Well, i thought this sample had been aged 6 months as it had changed a fair amount already, imagine our surprise when it was revealed to be aged 6 days, gobsmacking! I’m still amazed to be honest. We will be keeping an eye on developments At Spirit of Birmingham, so far all is looking very good.
Overall tasting thoughts
It was an absolute pleasure to sample these 3 spirits, and i can understand the apprehension felt by Anthony and the team, i think we may have been the first to taste and review them, all is looking very good indeed. Iv’e been very keen to try these as multiple grain spirits really do excite me, a few are also doing it over in Ireland, and i can’t wait to try the finished whisky, it could be a really dirty dram, we will see.
Thanks to – @SpiritofBrum and @MCDrammer for the samples and for joining us on the evening.
Follow @SpiritofBrum Follow @MCDrammer Follow @thewhiskeychaps
