In Might 2021 Bimber distillery kicked off The Spirit of the Underground, a sequence formally licensed by the London Transport community, showcasing a unique tube station on every bottle. The sequence has its personal web site.
The sequence is launched in batches of 4 whiskies, at all times double matured in various kinds of casks. We tried the primary batch in 2021, and now we have a look at the most recent batch #6. It contains Oval, Stratford, Wembley Park and Wimbledon. That’s 24 whiskies to date – nonetheless a protracted technique to go till town’s 11 strains are populated – the sequence will get 44 stations in complete.
Every whisky spent round 3 years of their ending casks, which makes it extra of a double maturation.
Bimber Stratford (58,5%, OB ‘The Spirit of the Underground’ 2024, Fino sherry cask #267/16, 325 btl.)
Nostril: the color already indicated fairly some wooden affect. So it begins grassy and pretty dry, with a berry sourness, orange juice and a few mossy notes. Then a touch of caramel, with pineapple and peach within the background. Gingery notes and salted nuts too.
Mouth: actually spicy. Ginger and pepper, together with inexperienced olives in brine, salty liquorice, lemon peels and extra (crimson) berries, which is barely shocking for a Fino cask. Tobacco together with tannins and nutmeg. Toasted grains and loads of leafy notes in the direction of the tip.
End: lengthy, on a mixture of salt, lemon and drying nutty notes. Nonetheless hints of tobacco.
Fairly a spicy Bimber, with a marked salinity from the Fino cask. Total that actually makes it a Fino consultant! Then again there’s additionally a extremely energetic woody aspect that I discover tougher to swallow. Offered out, like of those bottlings?
Bimber Wembley Park (58,3%, OB ‘The Spirit of the Underground’ 2024, Marsala cask #300/11, 305 btl.)
Nostril: a bit rounder but additionally considerably extra vinous. Honey and oranges as a substitute of the Fino sourness. Wealthy spices like nutmeg and ginger. More and more extra candied (extra in the direction of Oloroso), with toffee and apricots. Then sultanas and a touch of leather-based.
Mouth: oily however once more very spicy, with hints of American whisky at occasions. Fairly scorching really. Assume nutmeg, clove, peppery notes and leather-based. Then citrus zest earlier than the vinous astringency units in. A agency tannic edge in addition to some chilly espresso. Darkish cocoa powder as properly.
End: lengthy, quite winey and spicy. Crimson berries and burnt toast till the very finish.
Right here the spicy character is turning into a bit borderline, in my view, taking away among the steadiness. Add to {that a} marked vinous footprint and you’ve got a whisky that’s definitely much less to my liking. Apologies to Sicily, I nonetheless love you. Rating: 80/100
Bimber Oval (57,6%, OB ‘The Spirit of the Underground’ 2024, Moscatel sherry cask #282/22, 307 btl.)
Nostril: intense sweetness coupled to intense spice. Raspberries, stewed apricots, candy figs. Tobacco and cinnamon within the distance. Then some wine gums earlier than it goes in the direction of toffee. A refined floral overtone as properly.
Mouth: toasted oak once more. That’s a typical thread on this sequence to date – overly energetic bourbon wooden initially. Then caramelized notes, black pepper and brown sugar. A bit chilli warmth. A slight bitterness of grapefruit and darkish chocolate in the long run.
End: lengthy, peppery, with plenty of tobacco notes, nutmeg and candy woody notes.
Fairly fruity at occasions, however the spices are fairly loud once more. Certain, a couple of drops of water go a good distance, however I believe the preliminary bourbon casks could have been a tad too vital right here. Rating: 83/100
After which fairly a particular cask: Vino de Naranja. See my Aber Falls article or Compass Field Canvas for some background info. Subsequent time you’re in Sevilla, you’ll want to attempt it straight from the barrel, at Maestro Marcelino for example.
Bimber Wimbledon (56,6%, OB ‘The Spirit of the Underground’ 2024, Vino de Naranja cask #310/5, 298 btl.)
Nostril: blood orange at first, with orange peels, plenty of raisins and dates. Chocolate, stewed apples and hints of vanilla, making this actually wealthy. Caramel too. Then some earthy notes and liquorice, in addition to freshly grated nutmeg and a whiff of chiffon leather-based.
Mouth: fairly spicy (no must inform you once more?) with orange peels, giving this a singular bittersweet profile. Blood orange, black pepper, toffee and toasted oak. Then leafy notes, bitter berries, cinnamon and Jaffa muffins.
End: medium, with extra caramel sweetness, orange peels and a refined saline edge.
So if there’s a number of wooden (spice) to start out with, you higher add a number of sweetness. And oranges are at all times good. When it comes to steadiness that is in all probability higher than the Fino, however I felt that one was a bit extra distinctive. Total, a fairly tasty session however subsequent time I’d like to have a toned down preliminary maturation. Rating: 85/100
