Cotswolds Highgrove Evergreen Batch No. 1

Majestic Single Malt: Cotswolds Highgrove Evergreen Batch No. 1

• Highgrove Evergreen - Batch No. 1 from Cotswolds Distillery
• Barley from Highgrove Estate - royal provenance included
• Maturation in Bourbon and STR Red Wine Casks - dual cask character
• English Single Malt from the Cotswolds region - modern distilling craft since 2014
• Unchill-filtered - No chill-filtration and no colouring with 46% vol.

Portrait: What makes the Cotswolds Highgrove Evergreen Batch No. 1 special

There are whiskies that come from industrial warehouses. And then there is the Highgrove Evergreen, which probably even says “please” and “thank you” when it is being created.

This single malt comes from the Cotswolds Distillery, the first fully operational distillery in the region since 2014. It is almost as if someone, in a very British postcard landscape, decided: “Isn’t something missing here? Whisky.” - and simply built a distillery.

The Cotswolds is, after all, a place where even the grass looks properly groomed. Rolling hills, charming villages, and sheep that likely enjoy a very good work-life balance. And it is exactly here that this whisky is created - with a calm that almost feels suspiciously relaxed.

The highlight of Evergreen: the barley comes from the Highgrove Estate, the country residence of King Charles III.
One could therefore say: this is whisky with rather noble roots. If barley had a career, this one would probably already hold a title in the British peerage.

For maturation, both Bourbon Casks and so-called STR Red Wine Casks are used. STR stands for “Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred” - in other words, casks that have been given a second chance in life. Something like a whisky retreat for retired wine barrels.

Batch 1 means, by the way: the beginning of a series. Or in other words - the moment when everyone is still slightly nervous and everything is checked twice before it goes into the bottle.

Bottled at 46% vol., this single malt is pleasantly self-confident, but not loud. More the type that stands in the room and says: “I was here before it was cool.”

In short: An English whisky with royal connections, rural calm, and a good dose of charm - without feeling the need to talk about it too much.

Batch No. 1
Outturn: 2,500 bottles

Tasting Notes: This is how the Cotswolds Highgrove Evergreen Batch No. 1 tastes like

• Nose: Fruity and inviting with clear notes of ripe orchard fruits. Accompanied by honey, vanilla, and a hint of light blossoms. Subtle red wine nuances from the STR casks add depth, alongside gentle malt sweetness and a delicate touch of oak.
• Palate: Soft and well-balanced with fruity sweetness in the foreground. Notes of stone fruit, raisins, and caramel combine with honey and a light spice. The wine cask maturation provides an elegant structure and a pleasantly lightly spicy complexity, without feeling too heavy.

• Finish: Medium-length and harmoniously fading. Soft fruity notes remain, along with a touch of vanilla and a fine, dry oak spice. A clean, elegant aftertaste with subtle sweetness and gentle spice.