This past weekend, we went to a whisky tasting event, which we paid to attend, and stumbled upon Cotswolds Distillery—a brand I’d never heard of until then and boy, what a great discovery! Let’s dive in.

Cotswolds Distillery is in the heart of the Cotswolds countryside and was founded in 2014 by Dan Szor, a native New Yorker and whisky enthusiast who moved to the region after a long career in London’s finance sector. During the tasting, I sampled their Signature, Founder’s Choice, Harvest, Peated Cask, and the 2023 Single Cask Release. Spoiler: that last one stole the show for me!

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Nose: red fruits and light sweetness

Palate: creamy, sweet, strawberries, baking spices, and hints of oranges

Finish: light sweetness and oak

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I’m not sure if this bottling is still available, so I couldn’t find pricing information. Regardless, I’m very impressed with this distillery. While my favorite was the 2023 Single Cask Release (Madeira Casks), the other expressions I tried were also excellent. This one stood out because its sweetness was perfectly balanced—the sweet notes and spiced baking flavors complemented each other beautifully. It had a creamy mouthfeel and was the one I would have happily asked for a second pour of. Bold yet not overwhelming, it was truly exceptional. I’m thrilled to have discovered this brand and can’t wait to try more. If you haven’t checked them out yet, they’re worth exploring.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend people to try it and make up their own minds.