Spirit of Yorkshire releases 1yo Maturing Malt

Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery has unveiled its first product – a one-year-old Maturing Malt that is the “forerunner” to the site’s single malt whisky.

Maturing Malt is part of Spirit of Yorkshire’s new Distillery Projects series

Hunmanby-based Spirit of Yorkshire Distilling began production last year and intends to launch Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky.

The ‘grain to glass’ site is an extension of Wold Top Brewery and exclusively uses barley sourced from nearby Yorkshire fields owned by one of the distillery’s founders, Tom Mellor.

Set up with the input from late whisky expert Dr Jim Swan, Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery uses two distillation techniques: a traditional pot still and more experimental column still system, both of which distill malted barley.

Ahead of the launch of its single malt, Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery has released its Maturing Malt bottling, which will form part of its Distillery Project range.

The expression is a marriage of the distillery’s two-spirit styles drawn from five casks filled in July and September 2016, making it just over one-year-old.

“Making a whisky from scratch requires curiosity, commitment and, most of all, time,” said Tom Mellor, co-founder and distiller.

“We’ve invested heavily in all three, taking the best of tradition and following our instincts to produce what promises to be a unique, noteworthy whisky. Our first release of Maturing Malt and Distillery Project series is the forerunner to our single malt and offers a wonderful snapshot of what’s to come.”

Only 2,000 bottle of Spirit of Yorkshire’s Maturing Malt have been released online and through the distillery’s shop at an RRP of £39.95.

An exclusive five-day pre-order period offered to those who have invested in Spirit of Yorkshire’s casks and newsletter subscribers has already resulted in over 700 bottles being sold.