Filey Bay Flagship Single Malt English Whisky (700ml)

The Spirit of Yorkshire distillery has been in operation since May 2016 and is a first for the district. The team has already received rave reviews for multiple expressions, in particular its first and second releases, now superseded by the ‘Flagship’. Rated 95 and 93 points respectively, Jim Murray commented of the inaugural bottling, “I have to say that the first thing that flashed through my mind on tasting my first mouthful was: Glenfiddich!… I’m talking about the classic non-age statement version, for years its trademark brand, that was sadly lost a great many years ago to make way for the 12 year old. When you taste this, you’ll see why. It is the sheer elan, the fabulous brightness of the whisky that both wins your heart and takes you back the best part of a couple of decades, youthful, fun and stunningly well made…” Expect something similar in this latest batch. Also on offer is a Moscatel finish, rare for whisky maturation (94.5 points) and an STR matured malt bearing the influence of industry legend, Dr Jim Swan (he helped with the Filey Bay startup a year before he died. It partly explains why these whiskies are so good.). Unfortunately this shipment was too small to permit us opening any of them to taste. Be the first! 

Other reviews... [First release tasted] Fresh and massively satisfying... 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022

[Second release tasted] An encouraging step toward their flagship single malt, this lemon-pale dram evokes aromas of lemon, herb gardens, clotted cream, marshmallow, and a little vanilla. It’s sweet as candy, with flavors of sugared almonds, Sweethearts, butter icing, candied lemon peel, pancakes, and a finish of peppery arugula leaves. (6,000 bottles)  88 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick 2020

[Second release tasted]... It’s the first time I’m trying this make. Apparently, it is a combination of pot and column spirits, so a self-blend or a single blend if you like, although it’s labelled as a single malt. Not too sure what the rules are in Boris Country, or are you allowed to call it a single malt if your column(s) does not rectify much? Just speculating, let’s try this baby… Colour: white wine. Nose: light and rather gracious, on pears, vanilla, melons, acacia honey and fresh maple syrup. I am not getting any graininess I have to say, and for sure no varnish, would love to have a look at their column. Mouth: indeed, it is sweet, fruity and easy, with bonbons, preserved pears and peaches, pineapple, and a little barley water. Shall we say we’re finding an Irish side to it? Finish: medium, fresh, easy, leaving your mouth as fresh as a baby’s. Comments: rather the opposite of the previous German drop, but I find it just as good. The high quaffability is a plus. 82 points - whiskyfun.com