Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky 750ML

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky 750ML is an English single malt whisky bottled at 46% ABV from 100% locally grown, floor-malted Cotswold barley. This expression took the overall English Single Malt category at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards and earned multiple Liquid Gold designations in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, with scores reaching 95 points.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46%  |  Origin: Cotswolds, England  |  Non-Age-Statement Single Malt  |  Distillery: Cotswolds Distillery

Production & Heritage

Cotswolds Distillery was founded in 2014 by Daniel Szor, making it the first distillery to produce whisky in the Cotswolds region of England. The spirit is double pot distilled following extended fermentations of over 90 hours using Anchor and Fermentis yeast varieties — a notably long fermentation that builds fruity ester complexity before the liquid ever reaches a still. Maturation takes place in a combination of STR (Shaved, Toasted, and Re-charred) ex-red wine barriques and first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, a highly active cask program that drives the whisky's deep natural color and bold fruit-forward character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Honey and butterscotch arrive first, followed by ripe stone fruit — peach and apricot — and a thread of marzipan. Beneath those top notes, warm baking spices and Seville orange peel emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is creamy and sweet, led by vanilla and honeycomb before a wave of baking spice — clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon — takes over at mid-palate. Dark chocolate and cherry develop alongside ripe red apple, toasted cereal, and a touch of marmalade. The mouthfeel is noticeably oily, giving each flavor time to register before the finish.

Finish: Medium in length with a peppery warmth, charred oak, and gently fading vanilla. Reduced sugars and dark red fruit linger as the spice slowly recedes.

How to Drink Cotswolds Single Malt

Neat or with a few drops of water is the primary serve; the 46% ABV and non-chill-filtered character respond well to a small dilution that opens up the stone fruit and honey notes. For cocktails, the whisky's bold fruit and spice profile works in several directions. A Rob Roy benefits from the red wine cask influence, which mirrors sweet vermouth's berry and herbal notes. An Old Fashioned lets the butterscotch and baking spice stand front and center against a simple sugar and bitters backdrop. A Whisky Sour highlights the citrus-marmalade thread while the creamy texture rounds out the cocktail's body.

Best For

• Introducing a Scotch drinker to the English single malt category
• Gifting a whisky enthusiast something outside the usual Scottish or Irish selections
• After-dinner sipping alongside a dessert course
• Building a world whisky collection with a critically acclaimed English entry

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cotswolds Single Malt taste like? It delivers a rich combination of honey, butterscotch, and stone fruit up front, followed by assertive baking spice — clove, cinnamon, and black pepper — with dark chocolate and cherry notes from the STR red wine cask maturation.

How does Cotswolds Single Malt compare to Penderyn Madeira Finish? Both are non-age-statement British single malts bottled at similar strength, and both lean into fruit-forward, spice-driven profiles with a peppery kick. Cotswolds draws its fruit character from STR ex-red wine barriques and bourbon casks, while Penderyn's Madeira pipe finish lends a distinct raisin and tropical note, making the Cotswolds expression darker-fruited and spicier by comparison.

Is Cotswolds Single Malt good for sipping neat? Yes — the 46% ABV, oily texture, and layered complexity from extended fermentation and active cask maturation make it well suited to neat drinking, with or without a splash of water.

Where is Cotswolds Single Malt made? It is produced at Cotswolds Distillery in the Cotswolds region of England, the area's first-ever whisky distillery, founded in 2014 by Daniel Szor.

What foods pair well with Cotswolds Single Malt? Dark chocolate truffles complement the whisky's cocoa and cherry notes. Aged cheddar or Stilton mirrors its butterscotch richness. Roasted stone fruit desserts echo the peach and apricot aromatics. Spiced charcuterie boards align with the clove and pepper warmth. Orange marmalade tart picks up the Seville orange thread running through the palate.

What sizes does Cotswolds Single Malt come in? The standard retail size is 750ml, which is the expression covered here.

Is Cotswolds Single Malt worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium single malt, and its multiple Liquid Gold awards from Jim Murray's Whisky Bible and 2019 World Whiskies Awards category win give it strong critical validation relative to its price tier within the growing English whisky category.

Why Cotswolds Single Malt?

The STR red wine barrique maturation program, borrowed from a technique popularized by the late Dr. Jim Swan, gives this whisky a depth of color and fruit intensity that few young single malts achieve. Extended 90-plus-hour fermentations build ester complexity that most distilleries bypass in favor of speed, and the use of 100% locally grown, floor-malted barley ties the spirit directly to its terroir. Scores of 94 to 95 points in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible and a World Whiskies Awards category win confirm that this is not a novelty English whisky — it is a serious single malt that has earned its reputation through verifiable critical acclaim.