This is the first single malt release from the Cotswolds distillery in England, founded in 2013 by Daniel Szor with production started in 2014.
Their Odyssey barley is produced locally in the Cotswold countryside, it is distilled in two pot stills made by Forsyths and aged in a combination of first-fill bourbon (30%) and STR casks (70%).
Cotswolds 2015 Odyssey Barley (46%, OB 2019, Batch 01/2019)
Nose: rather classic for a STR influenced whisky. Expect creamy ripe fruits mixed with latte and a good dose of spicy malt. Vanilla, pepper and a slightly resinous touch. Honey too.
Mouth: a creamy onset but again quite heavy on the spices (strong pepper, nutmeg), quite hot at first but countered by a nice fruitiness (apricots, subtle citrus). Toasted cereals, allspice and a background note of chocolate. Leafy notes with a slightly bitter, herbal edge towards the end.
Finish: reasonably long but mostly on oak spice.
We all know STR casks lead to drinkable whisky in a short timespan. The downside is that they’re all a bit similar. Well made but would we want to sip an entire bottle? Still available from Master of Malt for instance.