Spirit of Yorkshire announces first 2023 special release

The team at Spirit of Yorkshire has announced the release of the next bottling of their Double Oak series.

Filey Bay Double Oak #2 Special Release single malt whisky has been matured in ex-bourbon casks before a secondary maturation in lightly charred, custom-made and new oak casks.

The producers have described the expression as having notes of toasted oak, cream soda, fruit gums and hot cross buns on the palate.

Only 2,000 bottles of the release area available to purchase.

Speaking on the new release, Spirit of Yorkshire whisky director Joe Clark commented: "These special casks imbue our whisky with some really amazing and exciting flavours, pronounced fruity notes and soft, sweet, nutty, bread-like flavours. Double Oak #1 was exceptionally well received and I've no doubt that Double Oak #2 will be too.

"From a selection of over 100 ex-bourbon casks laid down in 2018, only a handful were selected for re-racking. I was looking for key characteristics that would work well with the virgin oak casks - light and fresh with elevated malty and creamy profiles and with fewer spicy notes. After assembling a beautiful batch of whisky, this was then reduced in strength to 50% ABV and racked into brand new virgin white oak casks from Kentucky.”

Bottled at 46% ABV, Filey Bay Double Oak #2 is available at a price of £75 and is packaged in a special release tube.

Amy Teasdale, also of the Spirit of Yorkshire, added: "Because the casks had not previously held spirit, we were checking the casks weekly during the final months of maturation to ensure that they were disgorged and bottled at the optimum moment. It was a time-consuming process but absolutely worth it and I know this release will prove very popular at the tastings I host with retailers around the country."

The new release is available from the distillery shop, at the Spirit of Yorkshire website and selected specialist retailers nationwide.

11 April 2023 - Bradley Weir