Named after a dark, mystical owl represented in ancient Mexican folklore, El Buho Mezcal represents a new breed of agave spirits. Mezcal is often referred to as the grandfather of tequila because it's centuries older, but that's not completely accurate tequila is made from blue agave near Tequila, Mexico, while mezcal can be made from agave grown elsewhere in Mexico. El Buho Mezcal, made from agave grown in Oaxaca, Mexico the birthplace of mezcal is produced by a fifth-generation family of mezcal distillers. Near the El Buho farm in Oaxaca, espadin agave plants that are nearly a decade old are hand-selected by expert jimadors who determine exactly when each plant is perfectly ripened and ready to harvest.The hearts of the agave, or pias, are then slowly roasted in a stone pit fire between Oaxacan earth and local mesquite for an entire week, before they are crushed under a tahona (a stone mill). After the resulting mash is fermented, it is double pot distilled in the same alembic still that the first generation of El Buho Mezcal producers used. Crisp, smooth and incredibly inviting, El Buho is a mezcal without pretense. This El Buho is a limited release handcrafted in small batches by Octavio Jimenez Monterroza, with wild agave Cuishe sourced from San Pablo Huixtepec, Oaxaca.

Named after a dark, mystical owl represented in ancient Mexican folklore, El Buho Mezcal represents a new breed of agave spirits. Mezcal is often referred to as the grandfather of tequila because it's centuries older, but that's not completely accurate tequila is made from blue agave near Tequila, Mexico, while mezcal can be made from agave grown elsewhere in Mexico. El Buho Mezcal, made from agave grown in Oaxaca, Mexico the birthplace of mezcal is produced by a fifth-generation family of mezcal distillers. Near the El Buho farm in Oaxaca, espadin agave plants that are nearly a decade old are hand-selected by expert jimadors who determine exactly when each plant is perfectly ripened and ready to harvest. The hearts of the agave, or pias, are then slowly roasted in a stone pit fire between Oaxacan earth and local mesquite for an entire week, before they are crushed under a tahona (a stone mill). After the resulting mash is fermented, it is double pot distilled in the same alembic still that the first generation of El Buho Mezcal producers used. Crisp, smooth and incredibly approachable, El Buho is a mezcal without pretense. El Buho Tobala-Espadin is handcrafted by maestro mezcalero Octavio Jimnez Monterroza with 85% wild agave Tobala and 15% cultivated agave Espadin sourced from Santa Maria Zoquitlan, Oaxaca. The agaves are crushed traditionally with a tahona, fermented for nine days in pine vats, before being double distilled in a copper pot still. Aged in stainless steel tanks for six months this mezcal has signature notes of caramelized pineapple, sea salt, and buttery popcorn. 

Highclere Castle Gin. With a score of 100 points and winner of over 100 international awards, this famously known London Dry Gin is made with botanicals from England's Highclere Castle, known as the "Real Downton Abbey". Citrus forward in flavor with a smooth velvety finish. This award-winning gin integrates juniper, orange zest, lime flower, cardamom and Highclere's famously grown oats to elevate the soft finish. Bottled at 43.5% ABV, it's quickly becoming a must-have in the world of mixology.

Distilled at Langley Distillery in England.

Lovingly handcrafted and aged in Kentucky, Pinhook Bourbon was established in 2014 and has produced several small batch bottlings in their newly restored Castle & Key distillery in Frankfort, KY, to much critical acclaim. What makes their line unique is the brand's three distinctive characteristics: its limited availability, mass appeal and strong ties to Kentucky's legacy of horse racing. Each release of Pinhook Bourbon is named after a thoroughbred owned by Bourbon Lane Stable. The label also features the horses racing records on their brand's website. Every fall Pinhook features an annual vintage of Pinhook Bourbon and Pinhook Rye, each of which is inspired by a thoroughbred horse. Each blend is as unique as the horse on the label. Pinhooking refers to an old Kentucky term for purchasing young thoroughbreds, holding them until they mature, and selling them when they are ready to run. Successful pinhooks much like whiskey - are made on instinct, experience, an appreciation of quality, and a little luck. Pinhook bourbons and ryes are handcrafted to reflect the richness of the Kentucky soil and the character of its beautiful horse country. Limited to a blend of only 65 barrels, this Rye Humor Cask Strength release is the first edition of barrel proof straight rye whiskey from Pinhook. Blended by Sean Josephs at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY the average age of the barrels is around 4 years old. You can expect deep and dense aromas of dark chocolate, candied black licorice, and vanilla extract, followed by robust flavors of raisins, tobacco, cinnamon stick, and sarsaparilla.

We partnered with small and large producers across the country to select whiskeys that express the full diversity of American terroir and style. The resulting blend is remarkable, and we are proud to be the first to showcase the growing category of American single malt in this way. 

We chose the name “American Vatted Malt” as an homage to the old Scottish category of vatted malt, which was once the preferred nomenclature to describe a blended whisky made entirely from single malts. Today, the Scots refer to that style as blended malt, but affection for the term “vatted” lives on.

As a new category, American single malt producers are notoriously creative, looking to their local environment and regional traditions to create distinctive whiskeys. That meant the blend was a challenging one technically, as it asked us to bring together a plethora of unique components. Never before have we strived to balance the distinctive tang of Southwestern mesquite smoke with the sweet and creamy maltiness of malted barley, or contrast briny coastal peat with the warm vanilla character of toasted oak. The resulting blend is complex and multi-faceted, rewarding the drinker with unfolding layers of flavor. 

This first release of American Vatted Malt was years in the making, as many of the components in the blend come from emerging distilleries that have never traded or sold bulk whiskey before. The physical and logistical work of sourcing and blending with a group of small, independent producers is neither easy nor short, but we believe it lays the groundwork for a new, exciting, and collaborative future. Some of our collaborators have asked to remain anonymous, but the core group of participants includes:

•    Balcones Distillery, Waco, Texas

•    Hamilton Distillers Del Bac, Tucson, Arizona

•    MGP, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

•    Harvest Distillery, Valatie, New York

•    Santa Fe Distillery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

•    Kings County Distillery, Brooklyn, New York

We look forward to continuing to work with this group of innovative whiskey producers while searching out new partners for future releases of Barrell Craft Spirits Vatted Malt. In addition to expanding our ever-growing portfolio of spirits, this new project is an important step in advancing our vision of the next chapter of whiskey in America. 

AWARDS​

Whisky Advocate rating of 88

A tale of passion

Nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Cotswolds countryside, the Cotswolds Distillery was born from a dream to produce delicious spirits in one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

From hedgefunds to HEDGEROWS
It all started back in 2014, when our founder Dan, a native New Yorker and whisky connoisseur, had moved to the Cotswolds after working in finance in London for many years. Seeking to leave behind that world and spend more time in the picturesque countryside of the Cotswolds with his family, it eventually dawned on him that he could combine his love of whisky with his desire to start a new business. A dedicated whisky fan, Dan saw the fields of golden barley around his house in the Cotswolds and had a brainwave ‘I suddenly thought, there’s barley all over the Cotswolds and nobody’s distilling it, let’s be the first!’ Having found a derelict site near his house, he set about building a distillery and a team to run it, and the doors of the Cotswolds Distillery opened in July 2014.

Launching our WHISKY
After three years of eager anticipation, in October 2017 we released our Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky, the first whisky ever to be distilled in the Cotswolds and the one which remains at the heart of our DNA. In the years since its launch, we have expanded our range of single malt whiskies to include our Cask Collection comprising four unique cask expressions, a yearly limited edition Hearts & Crafts series drawing inspiration from the Arts & Crafts movement, and hand-picked single cask releases.

Our Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky is a marriage of carefully selected and blended sherry casks and features in our Cask Expressions Collection. Each yearly batch is unique, drawn from the finest American and Spanish oak hogsheads and butts, some of which have been seasoned with dry Oloroso sherry and others with sweet Pedro Ximénez. All have been sherry-aged through their full maturation for a deeper and more flavourful whisky. Full of dried fruits, chocolate and a touch of spice.

Part of our Cask Expressions Collection, our Cask Strength Founder's Choice Single Malt Whisky is aged exclusively in our founder Dan's favorite casks: STR (Shaved, Toasted and Re-charred) ex-red wine barriques. These highly active casks were created by our mentor and renowned whisky consultant, the late Dr. Jim Swan, and give a rich and intense maturation to our fruity new make spirit, offering strong notes of toffee, chocolate and red fruits, as well as a beautiful, deep color. 

CAREFULLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS

Malt: 100% locally grown, traditionally floor malted barley from the Cotswolds.

Yeast: Two complementary varieties - Anchor and Fermentis - to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavors.

Water: Village water supply - filtered, softened and demineralized before use.

Wood: STR (Shaved, Toasted and Re-charred) American oak ex-red wine casks, designed by the late Dr Jim Swan.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Dry hay and cut wood, with dark chocolate and dried figs, and plums in sweet syrup.

PALATE: Warming cereal and toast notes, with lots of fresh red fruits and butterscotch.

FINISH: Hints of spicy oak, lots of dried fruit and a lingering nutty, dry note.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Best enjoyed on it’s own, but we don’t believe in rules when it comes to drinking whisky – sip this neat, over ice, in a cocktail – however you like!

The NOBUSHI are an order of elite warrior samurai descendants who have preserved teachings and wisdom handed down to them for generations. Nobushi Japanese Whisky is comprised of whiskies from the Miyagi and Nagano prefectures. It's a blended whiskey with great balance and fine velvet textures, surrounded and represented by a resplendent golden-amber color. These spirits are then mixed and aged for 3 to 4 years in American oak casks. Be ready for rich notes of flowers, summery fresh fruits, and spices on the nose. Expect a fruity, full-bodied, and winter spice flavors combined with light hints of caramel and vanilla on the palate.

A celebration of Oregon's legendary brewing culture, this whiskey grew out of our longstanding cask-trading tradition among a select group of beer producers in the Northwest. For as long as we've been making whiskey, we've traded our freshly-emptied barrels with some of our brewing friends in and around the Northwest, who have in turn "seasoned" them with Stout before returning them again. Our Stout Cask Finish begins with our Westward American Single Malt, and is then aged for one year in Stout casks.

Madre Mezcal is created at the Garcia Morales Ranch, nestled in the rolling hills of the Oaxacan Sierra. Produced by Jose Garcia Morales and his family, this blended mezcal is a traditional Zapotec recipe. Handmade in the hills of San Dionisio, Oaxaca, the family has been cultivating agave on their land in Oaxaca for centuries, creating high quality, small-batch artisanal mezcal. Madre Mezcal is distilled from agave Espadin and agave Cuishe using a family heirloom copper pot still. These agaves are roasted in an earthen pit, before being fermented with local well-water and wild mountain yeast. Madre has a hint of sweet smoke accentuated by earthy herbal notes of sage, and minerals on the palate, followed by a lingering floral finish. Agave Cuishe (or Cuixe) is a wild agave in the Karwinskii family that includes Madre-cuishe and Barril. It grows in a cylindrical, stalk-shaped pia, with leaves spreading at the top. It's often slightly smaller than Madre-cuishe, and yields intensely flavored mezcal with high minerality and spice notes. 

Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives. Waterloo gin pours together limestone-fed springs and local botanicals in a bouquet of Hill Country flavors.At Treaty Oak distillery they harvest botanicals unique to the Texas Hill country and arrange them in basket in the still column.This vapor infusion technique allows the essence of each ingredient to find an even brighter expression in the resulting spirit. Building on centuries of tradition, Waterloo Antique gin is aged in medium-char, white oak barrels to create body and complexity of flavor and a robust mouth-feel unusual in gin.It has rich woody vanilla notes with the botanical backbone of a gin Already botanically hearty, Waterloo gin is aged for 18 to 24 months, allowing the interaction between wood and spirits to create richer, deeper flavors and aromas, engaging the palate in a long conversation about taste and expectations.

Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives. Waterloo gin pours together limestone-fed springs and local botanicals in a bouquet of Hill Country flavors.At Treaty Oak distillery they harvest botanicals unique to the Texas Hill country and arrange them in basket in the still column.This vapor infusion technique allows the essence of each ingredient to find an even brighter expression in the resulting spirit. Waterloo Yaupon Gin is a special take on an Old Tom Gin. With a unique botanical blend of Yaupon Holly, Juniper, Makrut lime, anise, orris root and wildflower honey, this gin will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about this spirit.

Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives. Waterloo No.9 Gin is a Texas contemporary style gin infused with expressive, beautifully balanced local botanicals. Being bottled at 94 proof maximizes the botanicals that are vapor infused during the distillation process. While paying homage to traditional dry gins with ingredients like juniper, coriander and anise, Waterloo No.9 builds in Hill Country flavor with pecans, lavender and grapefruit zest all harvested in Texas. The result is a blend of science and art, a confluence of gin culture and terroirthe crisp, clear representation of Treaty Oak's constant purposeful experimentation and pursuit of the curious.

Founded by Daniel Barnes, Treaty Oak whiskeys are a fusion of scientific method and innovation.Their modern approach to traditional distilling and aging processes coupled with meticulously selected local ingredients yield a high-quality spirit using custom-made stills. Treaty Oak whiskeys are made using pure Hill Country limestone spring water.They source organic, heirloom corn varietals from Panhandle farmers and mill them at James Brown's bespoke Barton Springs Mill. Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives. All of their Char 3 barrels are sourced from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the defining points of their process is that they toast the barrel before they char creating a better caramelization of the oak. Central Texas has a very different climate than Kentucky and other areas producing bourbon. The wide swings of temperature and humidity allow for a maturation that is specific to the weather of the hill country.Their non climate controlled rickhouse was designed to showcase the dynamic climate. Named after their 28-acre ranch home in Dripping Springs, Texas, Ghost Hill Bourbon is a unique whiskey made with local heirloom grains from Barton Springs Mill. A genuine grain to glass bourbon, it is mashed, fermented, distilled, barreled, aged 2 years and bottled on-site at our Treaty Oak Distillery. Ghost Hill is a Bourbon born of years of purposeful experimentation.

Founded by Daniel Barnes, Treaty Oak whiskeys are a fusion of scientific method and innovation.Their modern approach to traditional distilling and aging processes coupled with meticulously selected local ingredients yield a high-quality spirit using custom-made stills. Treaty Oak whiskeys are made using pure Hill Country limestone spring water.They source organic, heirloom corn varietals from Panhandle farmers and mill them at James Brown's bespoke Barton Springs Mill. Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives. All of their Char 3 barrels are sourced from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the defining points of their process is that they toast the barrel before they char creating a better caramelization of the oak. Central Texas has a very different climate than Kentucky and other areas producing bourbon. The wide swings of temperature and humidity allow for a maturation that is specific to the weather of the hill country.Their non climate controlled rickhouse was designed to showcase the dynamic climate. Red Handed is thoughtfully curated from Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Aged 2 years, this beautiful straight bourbon presents a pleasant honey nose with kettle corn and cool earthy notes leading into a mild spice with waves of caramel and butter. This bourbon can be enjoyed neat or mixed into a classic cocktail. 

Founded by Daniel Barnes, Treaty Oak whiskeys are a fusion of scientific method and innovation.Their modern approach to traditional distilling and aging processes coupled with meticulously selected local ingredients yield a high-quality spirit using custom-made stills. Treaty Oak whiskeys are made using pure Hill Country limestone spring water.They source organic, heirloom corn varietals from Panhandle farmers and mill them at James Brown's bespoke Barton Springs Mill. Treaty Oak Distillery is named after the famous 500-year old tree in Austin, under which Stephen F. Austin signed agreements defining the borders of Texas.Their ginsare called Waterloo, after the original name of Austin. They moved to Dripping Springs, a place with a rich history of gatherings and shared perspectives. Central Texas has a very different climate than Kentucky and other areas producing whiskey. The wide swings of temperature and humidity allow for a maturation that is specific to the weather of the hill country.Their non climate controlled rickhouse was designed to showcase the dynamic climate. Red-Handed Rye is sourced from the Schenely Distillery and aged 10 years at 100 proof. This rare gem boasts of young green pepper with a hint of pear and green apple, balanced by a mild caramel and rich spice finish. The result is a unique and complex drinking experience. 

Round and full of flavor, our rum is made from a collection of the finest molasses available. As always, we bring out the best in our ingredients through traditional double distillation in hand-built copper pot stills. The result of our unique cooperage program, consisting of a variety of oak species and multiple toast profiles, is a bold and robust rum with rich deep fruit flavors, with viscous and warm notes of vanilla and caramel. This is a rum to excite both the rum purist and the committed whisky drinker.

Tasting Notes

NOSE: rock candy, pancake syrup, tanned leather, violets, burnt marshmallow, under ripe cantaloupe, saltwater taffy, prune, menthol, hoisin, roasted nuts

TASTE: lush and coating with cacao nibs, hazelnut syrup, char, tart cherry skins, burnt toast, caramel

FINISH: medium finish with layers of raw sugar, fruit skins, candied beets, char, tawny port reduction and abundant tannins

Inspired by the hit TV show Silicon Valley, Tres Comas is an ultra-premium tequila from a family-run distillery set it rural Jalisco. This ultra-premium tequila (which means three commas in Spanish), is inspired by the three commas in a billion dollars. A collaboration between HBO and Diageo, this 100-percent Blue Weber agave tequila was aged in American Oak barrels for over a year delivering rich, toasted oak finish. Tres Comas possesses notes of vanilla and spice. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in a selection of signature Tres Comas cocktails like the "Re-Billionizer," "Russ Fest," or "Billionaire Margarita.

Old Elk Distillery was founded in 2013 by Curt and Nancy Richardson (creators of OtterBox and Blue Ocean Enterprises) in Fort Collins, Colorado. The label is a collaboration with Master Distiller Greg Metze, they consistently produces top quality handcrafted vodkas, gins and bourbons. Named Colorado Distillery of the Year"" by the New York International Spirits Competition for two consecutive years (2016-2017) Old Elk Distillery produces Old Elk Bourbon, Dry Town Gin, Dry Town Vodka and Nooku Bourbon Cream and their all-new Peanut Butter Flavored Whiskey. Crafted from nostalgia, this whiskey is made from premium whiskey and infused with three different peanut flavors. Great on its own or in your own creative cocktail.

Situated in the heart of the Speyside region of Scotland, Dufftown is known as the Whisky Capital of the World. The village, which produces more malt whisky than any other town in Scotland, is home to seven distilleries, the oldest of which is Mortlach Distillery. Mortlach's signature distillation method processes the liquid exactly 2.81 times a complex technique. This fifteen-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is finished in ex-bourbon casks, delivering bold, smooth notes of vanilla and spice on the palate. The smash-hit series Game of Thrones has teamed up with spirits giant Diageo, to create a collection of rare Scotches inspired by the royal Houses of Westeros. In honor of the Emmy-winning show, these iconic whiskies serve as must-have collectibles for Game of Thrones and Scotch adorers. This Mortlach single malt is inspired by the three-eyed raven. Presented in a metallic gold canister featuring an illustration of the Three-Eyed Raven, the design pays homage to the King of the North Bran Stark, who served as the Three-Eyed Raven and granted independence of the kingdom of the north. Called Six Kingdoms Mortlach Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is the ninth and final bottling to join the Game of Thrones-inspired range. This whisky delivers a fruity character with bold, smooth notes of vanilla and spice. Best served neat, over ice or with a dash of water, which develops the fresh fruit character.

Two centuries ago, Maria Higinia Gomez earned 10,000 acres in Jalisco, Mexico, for her role in the Mexican War of Independence. In the late 1990s, her great-grandson, Iaki Orozco, recognized the land's potential for cultivating baby blue agave with higher sugar content. After planting 175,000 shoots, Riazul Tequila was born. The agave undergoes a 36-hour steam-baking process, followed by fermentation and double distillation. Riazul Extra Anejo, aged for four years, rests in American Oak and Oloroso Sherry casks, offering a rich amber color, vanilla aromas, and a palate of sweet agave transitioning to ripe fruit and spice on the finish.