AN INTRODUCTION TO THE COTSWOLDS DISTILLERY
Nestled in the picturesque Cotswolds countryside, in the charming village of Stourton, you'll find the Cotswolds Distillery.
Founder Dan Szor's journey began with a simple question - the same question that, coincidentally, all our partner distillery founders asked themselves - 'Why doesn't whisky come from here?' while gazing over barley fields. What started as a dream and a ‘what if’ has developed into one of the leaders of the English Whisky movement, a now globally recognised whisky region boasting over 55 distilleries.
Dan, with a background in finance, fell in love with whisky during his time in Paris, fueled by attending regular tastings at La Maison du Whisky.
Eventually, the allure of The Cotswolds drew him away from finance, and with his whisky passion and his ‘what if’ in his head, he set out to make his mark. He’d previously bought a cask of whisky with some friends from Bruichladdich distillery, and conversations about his dream with the then-Master Distillery, Jim McEwan led him to Harry Cockburn, former distillery manager at Bowmore, and Dr Jim Swan - a legendary whisky scientist and distillation expert. Following the mantra of 'if you’re going to do something you’ve never done before, do it with the best,' Harry and Dr Jim joined him on his quest, and in 2014, The Cotswolds Distillery opened its doors.
'Don't make a spirit that needs ageing, make a spirit that needs amplifying,' was one of Dr Jim Swan's guiding principles, and it echoes in every drop crafted at the Cotswolds Distillery.
The result? A fruity, eau-de-vie-like spirit, achieved through a super long 92-hour fermentation and a meticulously high heart cut from their spirit still. Heading this up today is Alice Pearson, their cool and incredibly talented Whisky Distillery Manager whose vision for whisky creation and flavour has led to the release of some must-try whiskies recently, including, the self-named ‘The Alice’. Someone you want to try and meet when you visit.
Left to mature for a minimum of three years in oak casks, their whisky finds a sweet spot when aged in ex-bourbon and STR casks (shaved-toasted-re-charred red wine casks), a Dr Jim Swan special.
When wandering through their warehouses you may spot other casks too - that’s because Alice and the team are keen to explore how this fruity new-make would develop in other cask types. Some of these are given centre stage in their 'Hearts & Crafts' series – a yearly limited edition series celebrating The Cotswolds' Arts & Crafts movement. One we particularly love is their recent Banyuls cask release.
Step through the doors of the distillery, and your first encounter is the vibrant cafe. It's not just a cafe; it's a local epicentre for delicious food and excellent coffee.
The distillery has gone the extra mile to establish deep roots, actively contributing to the social aspect of the local community. On an environmental front, they're currently immersed in a transformative project, turning a substantial portion of their land into biodiverse wetlands. This initiative involves nurturing willow trees, reedbeds, and wildflowers – a dedicated effort to give back to the very infrastructure of the land. The Cotswolds Distillery isn't merely a whisky destination; it's a thriving community hub and a dedicated ecological steward.
Other Cotswolds expressions we enjoy
Aged for its full life in a red wine STR cask (shaved, toasted, re-charred) this whisky is like an old fashioned in a bottle - just add ice! It’s brimming with notes of chocolate, cinnamon spice and dried raspberry - a great showcase of the Cotswold’s innovative approach to maturation.
The fourth expression in their Hearts & Crafts collection, they’ve aged their super fruity whisky in a Banyuls seasoned French oak cask. A French dessert wine, this whisky is rich and chewy - all golden syrup and dried apricots. A real treat of a dram!
