Bimber Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch 2 Cask Strength Single Malt English Whisky (700ml)

The English Whisky front continues to expand with London-based Bimber. Their first casks were laid down in 2016 and an inaugural single malt followed three years later in September of 2019. This project definitely fulfills the category of a 'craft' operation with 100% of the barley sourced from a single farm, traditionally floor malted, hand-mashed and slow-fermented for seven days in wooden washbacks. Direct fire copper stills and an in-house cooperage complete the picture. Distiller, Dariusz Plazewski’s policy of small-batch and single-cask releases has quickly built a loyal following.

Batch 2 in the Bourbon matured series is an outturn of approximately 2200 bottles at natural strength. Comes non chill filtered.

Other reviews... [Batch 1 tasted] Colour: pale gold. Nose: what’s immediately, glaringly apparent, is that this is a distillate influenced more equitably by its fermentation rather than just by its malt and its wood. You have this initial hit of bubblegum, then some rather bright and shiny green fruits. There’s also a similar richness and natural quality to the cereal components as we saw in the Cotswolds, but here it sits alongside these bolder and more assertive fruity aspects. Citrus peels, wee fizzy esters and eventually more vanilla from the American oak emerging. With water: spices, orchard fruits, gooseberry, kiwi and some softer things like sandalwood and fabric. I even get a wee impression of chalkiness. Mouth: here you feel the oak a little more directly at first. Quite a lot of green and pink peppercorns, rye breads, nutmeg, ginger and turmeric. All hyper clean and in some ways more towards what we might think of as as ‘world whisky’ profile (terminology that’s increasingly loosing meaning in my view). With water: indeed, rather grippy spices, a mixture of fresh and bitter herbs, lime, sorrel, peppery watercress and some pretty classical vanilla sponge cake. Finish: good length, a nicely bitter, peppery, lightly herbal and even showing some notes of ointment and witchhazel. Comments: Extremely impressive stuff. The oak bites ever so slightly for me but this is undeniably classy and very well-made young whisky. I love these herbal qualities that emerge with time and a little water. Would love to try this distillate from refill one day.
87 points - whiskyfun.com