Oxford
The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) is located in the town of the same name in England. In collaboration with a special botanist, they source organically grown barley. Besides Rye Whisky, the craft distillery in Oxford also produces Gin and Vodka.
| Information about the Distillery | |
|---|---|
| England | |
| -1.223730 51.752305 | |
| Active | |
| 2017 | |
| Tom Nicolson, Cory Mason, Tagore Ramoutar | |
| https://www.theoxfordartisandistillery.com/ |
| Average tasting notes Tasting notes |
Calculated from 35
i
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|---|---|---|
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Nosing
Sweet:
Fruit:
Spices:
Wheat:
Malt:
Vanilla:
Nuts:
Barley:
Banana:
Herbs:
Wheat:
Sweet:
Banana:
Fruit:
Barley:
Zitrus:
Mint:
Malt:
Hazelnut:
Vanilla:
Cinnamon:
Zitrus:
Plum:
Cinnamon:
Grapefruit:
Caramel:
Hazelnut:
Anis:
Grapefruit:
Almonds:
Plum:
Rye:
Sherry:
Grape:
Nuts:
Berries:
Hay:
Heather:
Raisin:
Rye:
Tasting
Fruit:
Sherry:
Spices:
Raisin:
Sweet:
Nuts:
Almonds:
Banana:
Almonds:
Salt:
Chocolate:
Maritime Notes:
Spices:
Plum:
Chili:
Raisin:
Pepper:
Plum:
Dark Chocolate:
Herb:
Berries:
Rye:
Malt:
Oak:
Sweet:
Wheat:
Wheat:
Dark Chocolate:
Herb:
Nuts:
Sherry:
Cherry:
Oil:
Vanilla:
Rye:
Finish
Spices:
Fruit:
Sweet:
Herbs:
Mint:
Pepper:
Herb:
Mint:
Clove:
Nutmeg:
Oil:
Nuts:
Peat Smoke:
Coffee:
Malt:
Wheat:
Oak:
Berries:
Sweet:
Wheat:
Spices:
Rye:
Vanilla:
Blackberry:
Apple:
Rye:
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The Whisky
The Whiskies of Oxford's first legal distillery are all distilled from sustainably grown grain and produced in limited editions.
The Oxford Rye Purple Grain was released in 2018 to celebrate the distillery's fifth birthday and bottled at cask strength with 53.6% vol. It was first matured for two years in New American Oak Casks and then for one year and two months in Moscatel Roxo Casks from Setúbal, Portugal. The Graduate Rye Whisky is matured in American oak casks before being bottled at 51.3% vol. cask strength.
For The Tawny Pipe Rye, the distillery uses a mashbill of 70 per cent rye, 20 per cent wheat and 10 per cent barley. It is matured in American oak barrels before being transferred to a Tawny Port Pipe. This Whisky is also bottled at 56% vol. cask strength. The Oxford Red Red Rye owes its ruby red colour to its maturation in four different casks.
The Pure Rye Spirit is a Rye distillate. Like the Whiskies of the Oxford distillery, it is also distilled twice and then stored in New American Oak Casks.
The Gin
In addition to its Whisky, the distillery also produces a range of Gins in cooperation with the Oxford Botanic Garden and the Ashmolean Mueseum. The Gins are also distilled from traditional grains.
The Oxford Rye Dry Gin uses juniper, coriander, angelica and orris root, lemon, orange and bitter orange peel, nutmeg, cubeb, liquorice root, meadowsweet and angelica seed as botanicals. The Oxford Botanic Garden Physic Gin uses 25 botanicals. Therefore, the distillery is the only distillery in the world to have access to the Botanic Garden of Oxford University. The Ashmolean Dry Gin was created in collaboration with the Museum of Art and Archaeology at Oxford University. Inspired by the museum's collection, this Gin is made with 17 botanicals, such as exotic Jara lemon, rose, jasmine and spices from the Middle East and Asia.
The Production
Oxford is the only distillery that relies on the use of sustainable ancient grains in the production of its spirits. The ancient grains - rye, wheat and barley - are grown within a radius of about 80 kilometres exclusively for the distillery and are adapted to the local growing conditions. This is not only good for the environment, but is also noticeable in the taste. Characteristic for the Whiskies is a malty note with caramel-like undertones.
The Pot Stills
The two copper stills at Oxford were commissioned from a historic English coppersmith to meet the distillery's specific requirements. This resulted in Nautilus, a 2,400 litre pot still and Nemo with a 500 litre capacity. The names hint at an inspiration from Jules Verne's novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Accordingly, their appearance is in steampunk style.
The Maturation
The distillery uses small experimental casks with different char levels. The Rye Whisky is stored in barrels made of American oak, Madeira and port, among others.
The Visitor Centre
The Oxford Artisan Distillery offers Whisky tours where visitors can learn all about the new bottlings. On special tours of the distillery, you can also learn about the process of making the spirits. Afterwards, there is the opportunity to buy some spirits in the distillery's shop and purchase, among other things, the limited editions produced especially for the shop.
Distillery address:
The Oxford Artesian Distillery
Old Depot, South Park, Cheney Lane
Oxford OX3 7QJ UK
Tel.: +44 1865 767918
Email: info@theoxfordartisandistillery.com
User Notes about the Distillery
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