Cotswolds Hearts & Crafts No.3 Single Malt Whisky

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 55.6% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

For Hearts & Crafts No.3, the rum cask influence extends throughout maturation rather than being confined to a final finish. The new-make spirit went directly into former French oak red wine barriques that had subsequently held Caribbean rum. These reconditioned casks come from French cooperage partners and each holds 225 litres. Extended maturation in casks with this previous use gives the edition its distinctly sweet, fruity character.

The third instalment of the annual Hearts & Crafts series was released in 2022 at 55.6% alcohol. Batch 01/2022 comprises 3,000 bottles. This non-smoky single malt is neither chill-filtered nor coloured and comes in a presentation tube.

The name Hearts & Crafts links the heart of the distillation with the 19th-century Arts & Crafts movement. The movement championed craftsmanship in design and had close ties to the Cotswolds. The packaging draws on patterns by William Morris, who spent much of his time at his country home, Kelmscott Manor. A design in warm earth tones was chosen for the rum cask edition.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Rum-soaked raisins lead the nose, accompanied by vanilla and sweet butter biscuit notes. Cinnamon, apple pie and ripe banana appear as subtle nuances. Baked apple and vanilla ice cream add to the aromas, along with a hint of nutmeg.
• Palate: On the palate, pears and berries mingle with marzipan sweetness. Spicy French oak accompanies the full body, while brown sugar and ripe pears emphasise the sweet, fruity side.
• Finish: The long finish initially recalls fruity pastries before giving way to dry wood spice. Pepper remains a subtle nuance. Tropical fruit and a hint of orange peel also emerge on the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Daniel Szor founded Cotswolds Distillery in 2014 after leaving his career in London's financial sector. The barley fields surrounding his new home inspired him to make whisky in the region. The distillery opened its doors in July 2014, and its first single malt was released in October 2017. Former Bowmore distillery manager Harry Cockburn and whisky expert Dr Jim Swan helped him establish the distillery.

The distillery uses only barley grown in the Cotswolds for its single malts. Warminster Maltings processes it using traditional floor malting, in which the germinating grain is turned by hand. Fermentation takes place in steel vessels with Anchor and Fermentis yeasts and lasts over 90 hours, producing fruity esters. During the subsequent double distillation, the distillery starts collecting the heart of the spirit early and also ends this cut early. This preserves the fruity components while excluding heavier compounds from the later tails.

Facts: