English rye whisky is still a rare thing, and that alone makes this bottle from East London Liquor Co worth paying attention to. Their Rye 2018, bottled at seven years old from a single Pauillac cask — that's a red wine barrel from Bordeaux's left bank, for the uninitiated — represents exactly the kind of ambitious cask experimentation that's putting English distillers on the map. At 55.1% ABV and drawn from cask 218, this is a single cask release with genuine character and no shortcuts.
What strikes me first about this whisky is the sheer confidence of the approach. Rye grain already brings a spicier, more assertive character than your typical English single malt, and finishing or maturing it in a Pauillac cask is a bold pairing. Pauillac wines — think Lafite, Mouton Rothschild — are known for their deep tannic structure and dark fruit concentration. That kind of cask influence on a seven-year-old rye at cask strength is going to leave a serious mark on the spirit, and I mean that in the best possible way.
At £95.95, you're paying a premium, but consider what you're actually getting: a single cask, cask strength English rye with seven years of maturation and a genuinely unusual wine cask finish. In the context of what Scottish single cask bottlings go for these days, this is honestly reasonable. You're also supporting a relatively young distillery that's clearly investing in long-term stock and creative maturation — not just rushing spirit to market.
Tasting Notes
I'll hold off on detailed tasting notes for now, as I want to revisit this one properly over several sessions. What I will say is that you should expect the rye grain's natural peppery bite to sit alongside whatever the Pauillac cask has contributed — likely some tannic dryness, dark fruit sweetness, and a vinous depth that you simply don't get from bourbon or sherry wood. The cask strength ABV means this whisky will reward patience. Add water in small drops and let it open up.
The Verdict
This is a genuinely interesting whisky. English rye is a tiny category, and single cask releases at this age and strength are even rarer. East London Liquor Co have made something that doesn't need to lean on Scottish or American traditions to justify itself — it stands on its own terms. A 7.8 out of 10 feels right to me. It loses half a point because the price will give casual drinkers pause, and without a confirmed track record of consistency across casks, you're taking a small leap of faith on cask 218 specifically. But for whisky enthusiasts who want something genuinely different, this delivers. It's a conversation starter that actually has something to say.
Best Served
Neat, in a Glencairn, with a few drops of water to tame that 55.1% ABV. This is not a mixing whisky — at this price and this level of character, you want to give it your full attention. That said, if you're feeling adventurous, a small measure in a Manhattan with a quality sweet vermouth would be spectacular. The Pauillac cask influence and the vermouth's herbal sweetness should complement each other beautifully, and the rye backbone will keep the drink structured and dry. But honestly, pour it neat first. Get to know it before you start experimenting.
