WEST MIDLANDS DISTILLERY UNVEILS ITS HISTORIC INAUGURAL RELEASE

A momentous milestone has arrived—not just for West Midlands Distillery, but for English whisky as a whole.

On July 11th, 2025, West Midlands Distillery (WMD) launches its first-ever Single Malt English Whisky, proudly making it the first whisky ever produced in the county of West Midlands. This isn’t just a debut—it’s a statement. A bold, flavour-forward, artfully crafted statement rooted in tradition, experimentation, and the legacy of family.

And with five unique expressions—each distilled, matured, and bottled with exceptional care—the inaugural release offers a taste of history, terroir, and craftsmanship in every drop.

A Distillery with a Family Spirit

Founded in 2017 by a family of distillers with deep roots in traditional spirit production, West Midlands Distillery first made its name with small-batch gin, rum, and vodka. But whisky was always the dream. For years, the team worked meticulously—laying down single malt casks, experimenting with heritage barley varieties and yeast strains, and crafting the slow, copper pot-distilled spirit that would one day mature into their debut whisky.

They did it the old way—distilling over a low open flame in traditional Copper Alembic stills, sealing the stills with rye flour paste (a traditional and natural method), and allowing for a very slow distillation process. This method maximizes copper contact and flavour development, producing a spirit with uncommon depth and smoothness.

By 2021, the first whisky casks were laid down, and four years later, WMD is ready to unveil the results.

The Inaugural Release: 5 Expressions, 1 Bold Vision

What makes this release so unique is its single barrel approach, allowing each bottling to reflect different influences—grain selection, fermentation length, yeast combinations, and cask finish. Here’s a deeper dive into the five expressions:

1. First Fill Bourbon Cask (52.1%)

Matured in a Buffalo Trace first-fill American Standard Barrel (ASB), this dram is creamy, rich, and a classic sipper.

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, spice, honey

• Palate: Caramel, crème brûlée, soda float

It’s a whisky that feels familiar and indulgent, but with the WMD twist of heritage grain (Laureate and Plumage Archer) and unique yeast strains (EC1118 & Kveik Voss).

2. Bourbon Quarter Cask (53.8%)

Here, innovation shines. A first-fill ASB was re-coopered into a 125L quarter cask and then re-fired—intensifying depth and adding a subtle smoke character.

• Nose: Caramel, oak, subtle BBQ smoke

• Palate: Spice, wood tones, rich caramel

It’s warm, rounded, and perfect for those who like a hint of char in their dram.

3. Caribbean Rum Cask (53.2%)

This one’s for the adventurers. Fully matured in a Plantation Rum Cask, it brings out tropical funk and spice.

• Nose: Sweet fruit, rum funk, Caribbean spice

• Palate: Sugar-rolled tropical fruits, vanilla, soft rum notes

An exotic, fun, and seriously sippable single malt.

4. Oloroso Quarter Cask (53.9%)

A rich, sherry bomb of a whisky. Matured in a fresh Oloroso quarter cask, it’s full of Christmas warmth.

• Nose: Dried fruit, spice, malt loaf

• Palate: Jamaica cake, dried berries, long dry finish

Ideal for lovers of complex, old-world, sherried whisky.

5. The Matriarch (51.9%)

The crown jewel. A blending of all four casks, The Matriarch is a masterful marriage of styles—bourbon smoothness, sherry richness, rum sweetness, and smoke complexity.

• Nose: Caramel, spice, dried fruit, tropical flashes

• Palate: Bourbon vanilla, Oloroso spice, rum sugar, subtle smoke

It’s named in honour of the family’s matriarch, and fittingly launches on her birthday—July 11th.

Design That Tells a Story

Each bottle in the collection is more than packaging—it’s a canvas. Literally. Every bottle is hand-painted to reflect the dominant flavours and cask influence, using an abstract style that makes each piece one of a kind.

The colour-coded artwork is explained via a “key” inside the box, matching flavours to colours—subtle vanilla, bold spice, deep oak, tropical fruit, etc. It’s a celebration of art, craft, and storytelling all in one.

Housed in a bespoke presentation box, the packaging unfolds to reveal a map of the Black Country and Birmingham—the birthplace of this remarkable whisky.

Where to Find It

Available from July 11th, 2025, this is a limited release that collectors and whisky lovers won’t want to miss.

👉 Explore the Collection Here

Whether you’re drawn to the tropical allure of the Rum Cask or the festive charm of the Oloroso, each bottle is a time capsule of West Midlands history and future ambition.