West Midland Distillery Launches 3 Limited Whiskies

English single malts with bold character and a family story

The West Midland Distillery has officially released its first-ever whiskies — five distinctive expressions marking a new chapter for this rising English producer. While the Bourbon Quarter Cask and Oloroso Quarter Cask are already sold out, three exciting bottlings remain available for purchase: the Caribbean Rum Cask, First Fill Bourbon Cask, and The Matriarch — a blend honoring the family roots behind the distillery. Each bottle retails for £79 and is currently available via the distillery’s online shop (UK delivery required).

Founded in 2017, the West Midland Distillery has recently moved into a larger, state-of-the-art facility (as previously reported in March 2025). Distillation takes place on four charmingly named copper pot stills: Doris, Lenny, Patricia, and Sharon — a personal touch that mirrors the brand’s deep familial ties.

Bold packaging, clear identity

All three expressions come in sleek 70cl bottles with bold labeling that reflects both tradition and innovation. The elegant, minimalistic design allows the whisky’s character to speak for itself — each bottle clearly stating the unique cask type, ABV, and batch identity. “The Matriarch,” in particular, carries emotional weight as a tribute to “Shaz,” the late family matriarch, making it a collector's favorite with a deeper personal story.

Diverse maturation for a rich flavor experience

Each whisky showcases a thoughtful cask journey and tailored yeast and barley combinations:

• Caribbean Rum Cask (53.2% ABV) – Full maturation in a Plantation Rum Cask, using Laureate barley and Kveik Hornindal & Hercules yeast, resulting in an explosion of tropical vibrancy.

• First Fill Bourbon Cask (52.1% ABV) – Initially matured in a Bordeaux wine cask, then transferred to a Bourbon barrel to soften the tannins and achieve complexity with balance. Barley strains include Laureate and Plumage Archer, with EC1118 & Kveik Voss yeast.

• The Matriarch (51.9% ABV) – A blended single malt that combines all four initial cask types (Oloroso, Bourbon first fill, Bourbon quarter casks, Rum Cask) into a deeply layered profile. This is a celebration of balance, heritage, and creativity.

Tasting notes highlight the craft

Caribbean Rum Cask

• Sweet nose with tropical fruits, Caribbean spice, and rum funk
• Palate of sugar-rolled tropical fruits, vanilla, and spice

First Fill Bourbon Cask

• Aromas of caramel, vanilla, spice, and honey
• Palate reveals caramel, crème brûlée, spice, and soda float

The Matriarch

• Sweet caramel core with spice, dried fruit, and tropical accents on the nose
• Palate offers a complex backbone of caramel and vanilla, with layers of dried fruit, spice, and tropical sweetness
• Described by the distillery as: “It twists and turns like a twisty turney thing!”