The Isle of Wight Distillery is pleased to announce that today, its Isle of Wight Whisky is certified legal. The Island’s first ever malt spirit went into barrel on the 16th December 2015, three years and one day ago. In accordance with the Scottish Whisky Association’s regulations, spirits destined to be whisky cannot be legally referred to as such until a minimum of three years maturing have passed; up until this point, the spirit is referred to as a ‘new-make’ or malt spirit.
The unique recipe was created by respected brewer Xavier Baker, using the 9.2% abv unhopped beer whisky wash recipe with local barley, grown by Island farmers. The beer wash was brewed at Goddards Brewery then moved to the Isle of Wight Distillery for multiple distillations and placed in oak for the 3-year maturation.
The Island’s first single malt will now continue to mature in a combination of bourbon and charred white wine casks, at 63.5% abv (cask strength) before it is finished and rested.
There is currently no set release date confirmed for Isle of Wight Whisky. For regular updates and to be the first to hear the release date, customers are encouraged to sign up the Isle of Wight Distillery newsletter via the website.