Cotswolds Distillery, producers of the world's best-selling English single malt whisky, is launching an exclusive limited release of 1,200 bottles in The Harvest Series celebrating the Cotswolds countryside.
Cotswolds Round Hill Harvest Single Malt Whisky is the fifth expression in the Cotswolds Distillery’s Harvest series, marrying ex-maple syrup casks with Spanish oak Oloroso hogsheads, balanced by a subtle hint of peat. It will be available from the Cotswolds Distillery website and their three shops from 25th September.
The yearly limited-edition series sees the Cotswolds Distillery collaborating with local artists to create memorable gift tubes decorated with paintings of the Cotswolds countryside.
This fifth expression, decorated with a painting by Cotswolds artist Jeffrey Pratt, depicts Round Hill, near Traitor’s Ford, which inspired founder Dan Szor to establish Cotswolds Distillery after he saw fields of golden barley growing near his house.
This latest release is luxuriously rich and full-bodied and delivers layers of deep sweetness, light notes of orchard fruit and a touch of smoke with a long, lingering finish.Bottled at a strength of 55% ABV, its bold, distinctive character reflects the atmosphere and artistry of Jeffrey’s Cotswolds landscape painting which inspired Cotswolds Distillery whisky maker Alice Pearson to choose and marry together these distinctive casks.Jeffrey says, “Having lived in Swerford for over 35 years my love for this less developed area of the Cotswolds has continued to grow.
"The fields are small, undulating and intimate, compared to the vast wolds beyond Stow. Autumn is my favourite time of the year to paint because green gives way to gold and blue."
Alice says, “I was inspired by the use of colour and the expressiveness of Jeffrey’s painting. I find that many landscapes can have a subdued and calm feel, but this painting has an injection of fun and wonder which is supported by the composition as well as the use of flashes of bright colour.
"I wanted to make a whisky which reflects this, one that combines careful, technical composition with a splash of unpredictability and a relaxed, fun feel.”