There was a time when words such as handcrafted, small batch and limited-edition actually meant something. These days, they’re liberally splashed across whisky bottles and have become largely meaningless. Unless the bottle itself provides the answers, in the form of meaningful details and numbers, these terms are increasingly little more than marketing bumph.

One distillery that can genuinely lay claim to its handcrafted credentials, on its bottles and otherwise, and one that exudes tradition, transparency and integrity in abundance, is the Derbyshire based White Peak Distillery. Founded in 2016 by Max and Claire Vaughan, the distillery is rooted in its unique heritage, with a focus firmly on flavour and a deep pride in its Derbyshire provenance.

A true craft distillery in every sense of the word, White Peak has brought genuine excitement and energy to the English whisky category over the past few years, as well as to the wider whisky world. It proudly demonstrates that English whisky isn’t simply playing catch-up with Scotch whisky; it has its own identity, its own character and crucially, its own sense of dramming adventure!

Recently, I was thrilled to get acquainted with a couple of the latest releases from their multi-award-winning Wire Works range: Caduro X, released to celebrate White Peak’s 10th anniversary, and Calvados Arrivée, which showcases how the distillery’s spirit interacts and interplays with different cask types.

Wire Works Caduro X
Single Malt English Whisky
46.8% ABV – RRP £75.00

Matured in a combination of first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and the distillery’s signature STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) casks.

Nose: Bursts of tropical fruit, baked apples, vanilla, orange zest, tinned strawberries and mixed spice. Followed by fresh out of the oven pastéis de nata, banoffee pie, toasted oak and delicate wisps of smoke hovering in the background.

Palate: Those tropical fruits are back in full force, accompanied by teases of McDonalds apple pie, orange zest, pineapple cubes and toffee bon bons. The STR casks bring their own influence, adding spice and richness, while the Bourbon barrels provide a vivacious vanilla character.

Finish: Long and lingering, with tropical fruit, baking spice, toasted oak and gentle echoes of smoke.

Summary: A cracking 10th anniversary release. Fruity, spicy, creamy and gently smoky, with the sort of balance that makes the bottle disappear considerably faster than one might have intended.

Wire Works Calvados Arrivée
Single Malt English Whisky
49.2% ABV – RRP £71.00

Initially matured in ex-Bourbon barrels before being finished for three years in first-fill Calvados casks.

Nose: You’re eagerly greeted by green apples, vanilla custard, cut grass, icing sugar and baking spices. The nasal niceties then continue with the arrival of wine gums, Turkish delight, apple Chewits, honeycomb and a creamy white chocolate note that adds something very Milkybar-esque.

Palate: Apple pie drenched in vanilla custard, toffee, Lotus Biscoff biscuits, white chocolate and baking spices mingle beautifully, with the Calvados influence bringing an added fresh orchard character to the proceedings. Delicate whiffs of smoke and toasted oak then provide just enough balancing contrast to all the sweetness.

Finish: Long and lush, with baked apples, vanilla custard, toasted oak and a subtle lingering smoke.

Summary: An absolute stunner of a release that not only exudes White Peak’s signature DNA, but also demonstrates the versatility and quality of its spirit, as well as its top-notch approach to cask management.

The English whisky category has exploded with energy in recent years, but White Peak has been one of the distilleries bringing genuine excitement and credibility to the party. These latest releases are proof, if proof were needed, that they are still very much knocking it out of the park, and I can’t wait to see what they have up their dramming sleeves next!