Filey Bay Flagship Yorkshire Single Malt Whisky
Back on episode 11 of the Whiskey Ring Podcast when I interviewed Managing Director David Thompson, Spirit of Yorkshire was just about to sign their first import contract to the US, starting on the West Coast. Unbeknownst to be, that importer would be ImpEx, who’s chief, Sam Filmus, was a guest on episode 33.
I had tried Filey Bay through a traveling friend, but not since that interview and not since they were officially distributed in the US. I’m happy to say that nothing has changed, and the core profile is just as good as I remember.
Spirit of Yorkshire is, unsurprisingly, based in Yorkshire, the largest county in England by far. It isn’t far enough north to abut Scotland, but it does grow a tremendous amount of barley that is later shipped over the border for distillation and other uses.
The idea behind Spirit of Yorkshire is simple: what would the whisky taste like if, instead of exporting it, you distilled it in the place in which it was grown. This idea dovetailed with the expertise of Dr. Jim Swan, who specialized in designing distilleries/whiskies/processes that make several world whiskies so exciting and “of the place” (just a few include M&H in Israel, Kavalan in Taiwan, and Penderyn in Wales).
This is a delicious single malt whisky. As a core product and the “flagship” for Spirit of Yorkshire, it tells you everything you need to know about this distillery’s profile. Golden raisins (sultanas) soaked in oaky white wine, rich mouthfeel, white pepper, and apples all lead to a refreshing, bright whisky that simultaneously holds onto the palate.
I judge a brand’s entry point a little differently, knowing that it’s not only what most people will try first but also the base for finishings and higher proof products. It’s not a scoring difference, but rather asking if it accomplishes what it needs to. For Filey Bay, it’s a resounding yes. If you try this, you want to try the next one. I want to try the finished versions, the cask strength, the single barrel, because I know the core is so good. That’s hard to overestimate and not something every distillery can show.
Nicely done, David - and hope to have you back on shortly.
Thank you to ImpEx Beverages for providing this sample with no constraints, including in its position as a Whiskey Ring Podcast sponsor.
Filey Bay Flagship Yorkshire Single Malt Whisky: Specs
Classification: English Single Malt Whiskey
Origin: Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Yorkshire, England
Filey Bay Flagship Yorkshire Single Malt Whisky Price: $55
Filey Bay Flagship Yorkshire Single Malt Whisky Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Hay bales after rain. Medium rims and syrupy droplets.
Nose: Dense, yet tight at first. Sultanas straight out of those little kid-sized boxes. Sauternes richness with less sweetness. Apples just starting to ferment into cider. Wine turns drier and oakier like an oaked Chardonnay.
Palate: Intense - aged white wine leads the pack, maybe a barleywine, too. Dark, stewed fruit with white pepper, French oak creaminess and spice. Mouthwatering, white chocolate-covered golden raisins. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, velvety, lingering and syrupy. Pepper on the front half of my tongue that French oak rounding it out.
Finish: Medium length, white pepper and white chocolate. The golden raisins settle down, drowned in sweet and oaky white wine.
Overall: Bounces between dry and juicy, with a great mouthfeel and solid finish. One or two note, but 1) it’s a core, flagship profile and 2) I can see this being a great base for finishings without being muted.
Final Rating: 6.5
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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