Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #2 is now available. The English distillery’s first rye whisky release, Batch #1, hit shelves in April and sold out on the day of its launch.
Bottled at 47.4% ABV, Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #2 was aged in virgin American oak casks and freshly emptied vintage Port casks. The new rye whisky was created using the same grain mix and fermentation process in Hungarian oak vats as the brand’s inaugural Oxford Rye Whisky, but this expression was fermented in Spring 2018, when the weather was warmer, and as a result the liquid delivers more tropical fruit character.
On the nose, the whisky offers an herbal freshness led by aniseed and violets, with a touch of banana and praline leading to toffee, along with red apple, hazelnut and peppery notes. The palate features creamy butterscotch, strawberry jam and blackcurrant with raisins, cobnuts, walnuts, honey, and ginger cake. The intense sweet and spicy finish delivers banana bread, berries, tobacco, leather and peppermint.
“The goal with this whisky was to bring you to Oxford; which for me is rye fields and old libraries,” said The Oxford Artisan Distillery Master Distiller, Chico Rosa. “It’s herbal, nutty and cured. Like our diverse fields of grain, this is a diverse experience of sensations. With this batch, I wanted to highlight a different side of our rye – the herbal nuttiness and rye goodness, while also bringing a decadent and musky hint of Vintage Port. Showing their years the Port casks add a layer of complexity, without overtaking, only complementing.”
According to the brand, The Oxford Artisan Distillery is the only distillery in England to use populations of ancient heritage grains grown using sustainable methods that date back to the 19th century.
Only 973 bottles of Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #2 are available for purchase and are priced at £95 ($132 USD) per bottle. The whisky will be available from specialist retailers including Master of Malt, Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop, Oxford Wine and the distillery’s website.