A New Voice in English Whisky: The Story of West Midlands Distillery

In the ever-growing landscape of English whisky, one distillery has quietly, methodically, and passionately prepared for its moment in the spotlight — and now, the moment has arrived.

We’re proud to introduce the Inaugural Whisky Collection from West Midlands Distillery, now available at CASK23, your Midlands destination for fine whisky and premium spirits.

From Humble Beginnings to Historic Firsts

Founded in 2017 by a family of distillers, West Midlands Distillery began with a clear ambition: to one day produce an uncompromising, high-quality English Single Malt Whisky. Their early years were devoted to crafting bespoke premium gin, rum, and vodka, all while laying the foundations for what would become a landmark moment in British distilling history.

Built on values of tradition, precision, and passion, the distillery is rooted in slow, hands-on production techniques. Their spirit is distilled in traditional Copper Alembic stills, gently heated over a low open flame, and sealed with a natural rye flour bread paste — an ancient technique used for generations. The result? A smoother, richer new-make spirit with exceptional copper contact and remarkable purity.

Experimental and Authentic

The team has been laying down whisky casks since 2021, but unlike many modern operations, they’ve taken a single-barrel approach. This allows them to experiment with heritage grains, long fermentations, varied yeast strains, and bold cask finishes, while retaining a consistent house character: fruit-forward, full-bodied, and honest to the core.

Every drop begins with 100% English barley, traditionally floor-malted and sourced from dedicated farms. Fermentations stretch across weeks rather than hours, unlocking a deeper flavour complexity before ageing begins in small-format virgin, first-fill, and second-fill casks, many of which are custom-selected to amplify unique flavours.

The First Whisky of the West Midlands

Bottled on August 10, 2024, and officially launching on July 11, 2025 — in honour of their family matriarch — this is the first-ever whisky to be produced in the county of West Midlands.

Each bottle is presented in a bespoke collector’s display box, opening out into a map of the Black Country and Birmingham, a tribute to the region’s industrial spirit and cultural pride. The bottles themselves are individually hand-painted, using a unique colour code that visually represents both the cask type and flavour profile inside.

The white base of the bottle is symbolic: this inaugural series is entirely unpeated, highlighting the natural sweetness and complexity of the malt.

The Inaugural Collection – Five Distinctive Releases

Here’s a look at the full inaugural collection, now available at CASK23:

Bourbon Quarter Cask – Cask #5, 53.0% ABV

Re-coopered and re-fired from a first-fill bourbon cask, this smaller quarter cask offers intense oak, caramel, spice, and a touch of BBQ smoke. A bold English single malt with rich wood-driven depth.

First Fill Bourbon Cask – Cask #2, 52.1% ABV

Aged in a fresh Buffalo Trace bourbon cask, this dram is full of caramel, crème brûlée, soda float sweetness, and smooth spice. Full-bodied, creamy, and incredibly approachable.

Caribbean Rum Cask – Cask #3, 53.2% ABV

Fully matured in a Plantation Rum cask, this tropical gem bursts with banana, pineapple, Caribbean spice, and classic rum funk. A sunny escape bottled as whisky.

Oloroso Quarter Cask – Cask #4, 53.9% ABV

Richly sherried and packed with Christmas cake, currants, malt loaf, and festive spice. The use of a fresh Oloroso quarter cask brings forward dense, warming layers of flavour.

The Matriarch – 51.9% ABV

A masterful blend of all four casks. This flagship bottling weaves together bourbon sweetness, sherry depth, rum fruitiness, and subtle smoke into one harmonious profile. It’s a toast to the past — and a benchmark for the future.

Whisky as Art

The artistry doesn’t stop with the spirit. Inside each collector’s box is a “key” to the colour code, explaining how each cask and prominent tasting note is represented visually on the bottle. This fusion of flavour, design, and storytelling elevates the experience — this is whisky for both sipping and showcasing.

Now Available at CASK23

As a proud supporter of independent British distillers, we’re thrilled to carry all five releases from this remarkable new distillery. Quantities are limited, and demand is high from both collectors and connoisseurs.

Visit us in-store or online to secure your bottles of the West Midlands Distillery Inaugural Collection — a piece of English whisky history.

📍 CASK23 – Fine Whisky, Wine, Spirits & Cigar Specialists in the Midlands🌐 www.cask23.co.uk