Oxford Rye Heritage Grains

 

 

 

40°

The Oxford Artisan Distillery - England

American Oak Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Rye Spirit

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Oxford Artisan Distillery, also known as TOAD, was founded in 2017 in Oxford. They make gin, vodka, and Rye Whisky. It is the first certified totally organic distillery in United Kingdom. In 2021, they weren't making real whisky yet, so the sample I was given was about two years old, their first real Rye Whirsky coming out a few months later. It is made exclusively from rye, 20% of which is malted and 80% unmalted. The distillery closed last April, because they now want to move to Yorkshire to increase their production. I wonder if they'll change their name.

Let's Taste It : 

Quite strong turpentine, with some chemical violet. Crushed blueberry, mint candy. Behind, a certain cereal freshness can be detected, but it's not sufficient. Ethereal vanilla, lemon coulis, melting caramel, floral and honeyed fragrances. Light palate, wheat grains, rough rye, well peppered spices, acceptable finish, more or less long, almost crisp corn, a touch of alcohol, green wood, still young, cola nut, dry earth, tall grasses. Bay leaves, honeysuckle. 

In Short, 

Perhaps there was a problem with the conservation of the sample, which must have been lying around somewhere waiting for someone to get rid of it by giving it to me. As a result, the nose was severely degraded. This may have affected my tasting note, but one thing's for sure: this isn't a great spirit, because the palate and finish aren't great either. Be that as it may, since then this distillery has released some real whiskies, so we'll have to start by tasting that before forming a definitive opinion.

Score : 79

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Silky Roads - Out of Mind