Five English distilleries craft The Heart Cut’s first core release
Independent bottler The Heart Cut has unveiled Barley, the first release in a new core series that celebrates the ‘building blocks’ of whisky: barley, corn, and rye.
Created in collaboration with five leading English distilleries – Cotswolds, The English, White Peak, Copper Rivet, and Adnams – The Heart Cut x Barley brings together the distinct fingerprints of each producer in one layered, modern blended malt.
Bottled at 46% ABV, the blend is described as rich and vibrant, bursting with notes of strawberry jam, thick vanilla cream, and cinnamon buns. It has been designed to be sipped neat, shaken up, or stirred down.
To create this inaugural core release, The Heart Cut enlisted the help of more than 5,000 people to complete the brand’s ‘Whisky Matchmaker’ questionnaire, which was composed of a series of flavour-led questions that paired drinkers with their perfect whisky from The Heart Cut’s range.
By analysing what people loved most, The Heart Cut was able to craft all upcoming releases around each preferred profile. For Barley, the bottler prioritised the comforting, fruit-forward flavours the whisky lovers asked for ‘again and again’.
“We’ve spent two years listening to thousands of whisky drinkers tell us what they love, and Barley is our answer,” said Georgie Bell, co-founder of The Heart Cut. “It’s a blend built around the flavours people actually ask for, but it’s also a celebration of what’s happening right here in England. These five distilleries are doing incredible work, and we wanted to bring their voices together in something delicious, sippable and mixable.”
Rob Patchett, global advocacy manager at Cotswolds Distillery, added: “Collaboration is at the core of what makes English whisky so exciting right now. Being part of The Heart Cut x Barley allows us to celebrate the diversity of English single malts while contributing to a whisky that truly captures the character and quality of what’s being made across the country.”
The Heart Cut x Barley is available for its community from today (21 November), and will go on general release on Monday 24 November for an RRP of £48 (US$63) via www.theheartcut.com, select retailers, and as a pocket pour – The Heart Cut’s signature 30ml serve format, which is said to be ‘perfect for discovery and stocking fillers’.
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