This was our first Spirit of Yorkshire whisky tasting.
The Whiskeys we were trying on this tasting were all new to us, needless to say we were both rather excited. During this tasting we’d be trying;
- Filey Bay 2nd Release, 46% abv.
- Filey Bay Moscatel Finish, 46% abv.
- Filey Bay STR Finish, 46% abv.
- Filey Bay Yorkshire Day 2020 release, 55% abv.
Filey Bay 2nd release, 46% ABV, 6,000 bottles.
Filey Bay Second Release is the next step on our path to our Flagship single malt bottling. A true evolution of our First Release, the ‘inputs’ are very similar: a selection of bourbon casks married together with one sherry cask, and a combination of pot and column distillates, leading to just 6000 bottles.
Spirit of Yorkshire distillery
Appearance – This whisky is light gold in colour, it’s quite viscous on the glass, and has thick legs.
Nose – There’s a fair fizz on the nose, and it noses higher than 46% ABV too. I’m going dark fruits here, black Cherry, raisins, and a slight meaty note. There’s cherryade, a touch of menthol too, generally I’d say it’s juicy. With some time the nose becomes more earthy, some bacon, a little perfume and pineapple.
On the nose it’s pretty new-makey, smells young and vibrant. Blackberries and a touch of black pepper #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 19, 2020
Palate – Now it’s full on tropical and Stone fruits, and a very syrupy mouthfeel. There’s some lemon in there also, I really like this. It starts to get spicy, black pepper, stem ginger, caramel, almost a salinity too. It starts to get spicy, black pepper, stem ginger, caramel, almost a salinity too.
I’m not a fan so far. Still sitting a bit uncomfortably on my chest to be honest #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 19, 2020
Finish – It’s on the long side of medium for me, nice amount of wood, pepper, cinnamon, and mustard.
Yes I’d have to agree with bananas, but it’s quite subtle, the nose is lovely, so is the palate for me 🤤.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 19, 2020
My thoughts – I rather liked this whisky to be honest, and I’d certainly buy a bottle, though my Whiskey Chaps partner wasn’t so keen on it.
Notes – This whisky is natural coloured and non chill filtered.
Filey Bay Moscatel Finish, 46% ABV, 6,000 bottles.
This field to bottle single malt was initially matured in 200L bourbon casks (filled in 2016), before being transferred to 250L Hogshead barrels from Spain that had held Moscatel for 10 years prior to this. The use of bourbon casks followed by Moscatel barrels to finish creates a really interesting flavourful whisky. Still light and soft like our previous releases but with an added depth, more layers of fruit and sweet spices. There are 6000 bottles of this release available.
Spirit of Yorkshire distillery
Appearance – Light gold in colour, again quite viscous on the glass and beads up, nice thick legs.
Nose – There are very strong tropical fruits here, cream soda, lots of sweetness tbh. There’s lemons, pineapples, mango, cereals, cocktail cherries, like a cheese cake base too, it’s a very strong nose indeed, and very nice.
I agree 👍#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 19, 2020
Palate – Definitely fuller, more syrupy, and salty. Loads of tropical fruit, it’s oily on the lips and spicy in the cheeks. It definitely gets spicier, lovely and warming, I’m getting hints of the first sample too, distillery dna I suspect.
I find it very cakey, baking spices, sweetness and quite chocolatty too #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 19, 2020
Finish – The finish is pepper and sweetness, and it gets spicier, really heats up my tongue, lovely, and quite long too, very nice.
My thoughts – Again i rather enjoyed this bottling, i thought it might be a little drying, but it wasn’t, i’d buy a bottle for sure.
Notes – This whisky is natural coloured and non chill filtered.
Filey Bay STR Finish, 46% ABV.
Distilled in 2016, this ‘field to bottle’ single malt spent years maturing in bourbon casks before transferring to be ‘finished’ in shaved, toasted and re-charred red wine barriques, which came from sunny Rioja vineyards in Spain.
Spirit of Yorkshire distillery
Appearance – This whisky is mid gold in colour, it’s very viscous and has super thick legs.
Nose – There’s pastry here, cream soda again, lemon tarts, icing sugar, there’s more here, I’ve got to think of what it is. There’s a slight mustiness, sweet cherries and strawberries, but definitely tart, and possibly a touch of menthol.
Palate – The palate is big on red berries, strawberries, sweet cherries, red currants, some cranberry too, a little drying bit minimal. It gets juicier too with time, more syrupy, nothing heavy or dark here for me, making me salivate to be honest. I really like this one too, it’s a bit oily tasting too, a little bit of dirtiness.
Big and bold on the palate too. Red berries, sugars and a bit of fresh mint #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 19, 2020
Finish – Long and warming, inviting, spicy with wood notes coming through, maybe chillis right at the back of the throat, very nice indeed.
There’s a very feint smokiness lingering in this. Not peat, more sweet cherry wood smoke in the distance #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 19, 2020
My thoughts – Yep, another winner for me, I’d gladly by a bottle, thoroughly enjoyed it to be honest.
Notes – This whisky is natural coloured and non chill filtered.
Filey Bay Yorkshire Day 2020 release, 55% ABV.
Created by marrying PX (sherry) and Bourbon casks, laid down in summer 2016, it predominantly uses column distillate. The PX (Pedro Ximenez) casks from the sherry region of Spain bring chocolate and fruit notes; the bourbon casks add flavours of toffee, honey and vanilla. Married together using STR casks for a final ‘flourish,’ then bottled at 55% (stronger than our previous releases), this single malt whisky tastes far more than the sum of its parts and is very special indeed.
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery
Appearance – Slightly oxidised copper pipe in colour, beads up on the swirl line, and has slow thin legs.
Nose – Hazel nuts here, black cherries, black liquorice, cardamom, and some baking spices, this is different to the other 3. Cinnamon, spicy ginger, and vanilla custard. I’m loving the nose, and can see why this was picked, very very nice.
Another great nose. Lovely and rich, dark fruits, confectionary sugar, honey and caramel #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 19, 2020
Palate – Lovely and syrupy, tobacco/ cigar leaves, dunnage, more nuts, I need to think which ones, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, black cherries, black liquorice, there’s so much here, I’m not finished yet. There’s a mustiness, dustiness and wood varnish here too, I’d say old leather too, deeper flavours than the other 3.
I get the cinnamon and custard on the palate #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) November 19, 2020
Finish – It’s lovely and long, so warming, chilli’s again, very distinctive pepper, hazel nuts, and it’s getting spicier too, and some dark chocolate also, really is a lovely whisky.
😆😆 it is rather good though, I could sit with this easily for over an hour and dissect it, really nice.#thewhiskeychaps
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) November 19, 2020
My thoughts – This is by far the best of the 4 I’ve tried this evening, it can easily be a dram to sit and think about on a chilly evening, or simply sip and enjoy it for what it is, and id definitely buy a bottle.
Notes – This whisky is natural coloured and non chill filtered.
My overall thoughts from the evening – I hadn’t tried anything from the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery before this evening, and didn’t know much about their whisky to be honest, so it’s been a super surprise to find out that their whiskies are pretty good, I’ve certainly enjoyed them.
In order for me this evening, 2020, STR, Moscatel, and 2nd release, though 2&3 are very close tbh. The Yorkshire Day 2020 has just that bit more depth of flavour for me, loads going on in the glass.
