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ELLC to release ‘first’ east London single malt whisky
East London Liquor Company (ELLC) has unveiled a trio of new releases, including the “first” single malt from east London and a new rye whisky.
ELLC has unveiled its 2019 rye whisky
The line-up includes London Rye Whisky, East London Single Malt Whisky, and a blended whisky called EL x Sonoma.
East London Single Malt Whisky is a double-pot-distilled expression that has been matured in Bourbon and rye casks from Sonoma, plus Bourbon casks from Kentucky for at least three years.
Bottled at 47% ABV, it is said to have notes of milk chocolate, peanut butter and fresh hay on the nose, leading to bitter almond and biscuits on the palate, and a “slight vegetal” finish of green tomatoes and light tar.
The London Rye Whisky was first aged for a year in virgin oak, before undergoing further maturation in ex-Sonoma and Kentucky Bourbon casks for two years. It then spent six months in ex-peated whisky casks and was finished in ex-Pedro Ximénez casks. It follows the sell-out inaugural rye from the company, which launched last year.
Bottled at 47% ABV, it is said to have aromas of toffee, sarsaparilla, dark chocolate and tahini, with leather, peat, bouillon, porridge and peanut butter on the palate. The finish is said to have flavours of candied ginger and light tar.
Completing the new releases is EL x Sonoma blended whisky, which is a collaboration between ELLC and Adam Spiegel, owner and whiskey maker at California’s Sonoma Distilling Company.
The team blended ELLC rye whiskies that had been aged in a variety of casks – including ELLC’s ex-peated and barrel-aged gin casks – with Spiegel’s blend of Sonoma Bourbon.
Bottled at 45.5% ABV, the blend is said to have aromas of toffee, brandy-soaked cherries and almond butter, leading to flavours of spice and fruit, black peppercorn, dried apricots and a finish of corn silk and oatmeal.
All three whiskies will be available to purchase from ELLC’s three bottle shops in Bow Wharf, Borough Market and Seven Dials Market from 26 October, priced at £75 (US$93) each.
“We’re unbelievably excited for not one, but three new whiskies to be hitting people’s glasses at the same time,” said Andy Mooney, whisky distiller at ELLC. “Working with Adam Spiegel of Sonoma Distilling Company, I really appreciated his sentiment of ‘making whiskeys in a small way for a big world’.
“I like to say that, as a distillery, we’re incredibly lucky to be making whiskies that we want to drink ourselves, and then getting to share them with the rest of the world so people can find their own perfect dram.”
ELLC launched a crowdfunding campaign last year, which raised £1.5 million (US$2m) in 30 days.