West Midlands Inaugural Release - Oloroso Cask

West Midlands Inaugural Release - Oloroso Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire 
Dark amber
53.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, fresh baked bread, cocoa nibs, maraschino cherries, black pepper, hints of rye bread. With water, vanilla sponge, raisins, hints of dried blueberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Maraschino cherries, cocoa nibs, cocoa butter, damson jam, magic marker, prunes, cloves. With water, cocoa butter, maraschino cherries, magic marker. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, damson jam, maraschino cherries, cocoa nibs, hints of rye bread. 

Comments: 

The pungent peppery nature of the distillate is tempered by the sherry cask, bringing out notes of maraschino cherries and prunes. Water brings out more dried fruit and some more estery flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

West Midlands Inaugural Release Caribbean Rum Cask

West Midlands Inaugural Release Caribbean Rum Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire 
Pale green
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: New plastic, raisins, orange peel, malted grains, molasses. With water, damson jam, plums, raisins, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, evaporates, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cooked rice, plums, damson jam, molasses, fresh baked bread, orange peel, white pepper. With water, new plastic, molasses, plums, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, plums, damson jam, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Lots of sweet fruit but the slightly plasticky note that characterises rum casks is ever present. Water brings out a lactic tang, which offsets the bitter molasses and fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

West Midlands Inaugural Release - Bourbon Quarter Cask

West Midlands Inaugural Release - Bourbon Quarter Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire
Amber gold
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rye bread, new plastic, black pepper, malted grains, ink, raisins, hints of cinnamon. With water, new plastic, cinnamon, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Rye bread, raisins, hoppy beer, malted grains, black pepper, ink, butter, hints of barley sugar. With water, fresh baked bread, black pepper, barley sugar.
Finish: Short. Barley sugar, ink, raisins, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic and chemical, which seems to be a character of this distillery. The cask imparts sweetness and some nice dried fruit, even raisiny notes. Water brings out more pepperiness and sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this.

West Midlands Inaugural Release - First Fill Bourbon

West Midlands Inaugural Release - First Fill Bourbon

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire
Pale dusty gold
52.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, gooseberries, nail varnish, lemon zest, sour cream, hints of yoghurt, hints of rye bread. With water, nail varnish, gooseberries, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, rye bread, nail varnish, sour cream, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, hints of apricots. With water, nail varnish, black pepper, white grapes, hints of sultanas. 
Finish: Medium. Nail varnish, fresh baked bread, black pepper, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Quite peppery with a big heap of cereal notes, alongside citrus and a bit of stone fruit. Quite stripped back, definitely tasting the distillate here. Water brings out more esters and pepperiness.

Verdict:

I like this.

West Midlands Inaugural Release - The Matriarch

West Midlands Inaugural Release - The Matriarch

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire 
Dark gold
51.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, rye bread, malted grains, sour cream, nail varnish, magic marker, hints of lemon juice. With water, nail varnish, raisins, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raisins, camphor, lemon juice, nail varnish, black pepper, oat bran. With water, malted grains, nail varnish, lemon juice. 
Finish: Long. Nail varnish, magic marker, lemon zest, oat bran, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Tart, lemony and a bit lactic. It’s definitely an inaugural release, with cereal notes and some pepperiness as well. Water also brings out more estery flavours as well as more lemon.

Verdict:

I like this.