With every whisky we create, we attempt to elevate our craft to the next level. To take advantage of our traditional production methods and to combine these with our unique virtuosity for sculpting modern single malts that are flavour-led.
Each year we hone what we have crafted, tasted and assessed into an annual release for members of Bimber Klub. And each year we present our members with an exclusive single malt whisky that pushes boundaries. A release that attempts something new, or that pulls together different elements of our craft in ways which we have not attempted before.
For 2024’s release for members, we wanted to offer something special to celebrate five years of Bimber Klub, but we also wanted to showcase an aspect of our maturation programme which is talked about a little less than our preponderance for ex-bourbon casks.
Klub Release No.5 – Oloroso Sherry Cask is a clever marriage of both 1st fill and refill Spanish oloroso sherry casks. Its composition takes a best-of-both-worlds approach, showcasing the profound richness that it’s possible to derive from 1st fill sherry, but tempering this with the more subtle notes that result from utilising refill casks. The result is a marriage that is unmistakably Bimber, but which presents an entirely different flavour profile to any of our previous sherry-led single malt releases.
Sherry cask maturation brings a different selection of variable to the table compared to ex-bourbon. This is particularly the case when using European oak sherry casks as opposed to American white oak where the wood grain, and extraction levels derive a selection of aromas and flavours that are a natural best-fit for our fruit-forward London single malt whisky.
With European oak sherry casks, the team need to be mindful and vigilant of both the extraction of flavours into our spirit, but also an increased volume of tannins which will naturally transfer as maturation occurs. The relationship is not linear – and particularly with our spirit style, much of the extraction (of colour, foundational flavour and tannins) occurs early on in maturation lifecycle. Rather, our challenge with European sherry casks is to ensure an end result which is as balanced as it is delicious – and that requires careful monitoring, assessment and in the case of Bimber Klub Release No.5 – artful blending.
We have worked hard to ensure that this year’s Klub release not only presents a perfect sherried symphony, but that it also offers a dram that members will enjoy coming back to again and again!
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Bimber Klub Release No.5 is now available for pre-order. Klub members looking to purchase bottles should log into their Klub account and visit the Klub Shop.
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