Review / Wire Works Caduro

 

This new whisky is the first permanent whisky to be released by the English distillery of White Peak. It follows a successful year-long series of award-winning small batch and single cask bottlings. Wire Works Caduro, named after a brand of cable made at the Johnson & Nephew factory that is now home to the distillery, has been matured in American and French oak casks. These are first-fill ex-bourbon and ex-red wine STRs (shaved, toasted and recharred), which were filled with lightly peated single malt. Despite only just being released Caduro has already claimed a Gold Medal at the IWSC (International Wine & Spirits Challenge) 2023. It was the only English single malt to achieve this.

The White Peak distillery was founded in 2017 by Max and Claire Vaughan. It is located in the village of Ambergate near Matlock, Derbyshire in the Peak District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The distillery is housed within the former Johnson & Nephew copper wire factory on the banks of the River Derwent. This was the inspiration behinf the name of Wire Works for the brand. They also produce rum and gin, as well as supporting the local community in eco-friendly and sustainability projects. It is Derbyshire's first ever craft distillery.

Wire Works Caduro is bottled at 46.8% ABV and will initially be available selected specialist retailers in the UK. It will also be available from the distillery with the option to refill the bottle at a later date and with a 15% discounted price. A new bottle will cost £60, whilst a refill will cost £51.

Our tasting notes

The whisky is coppery gold in colour and the nose is vibrant and uplifting. Aromas of vanilla fudge, green apple and honeycomb rise from the glass and are backed up by a subtle sweet peast smoke and hints of milk chocolate, golden syrup and candied orange peel. A pinch of cinnamon is also detected.

On the palate this whisky has a lovely mouthfeel. It is sweet and viscous with a lovely elegant smokiness. The vanilla fudge and milk chocolate sweetness rise first and are quickly joined by toffee apple and fresh honeycomb straight from the hive. This note evolves to be more golden syrup-like with time. There are also some fruity notes and these tend towards dried fruit - think of sultana, raisin and candied orange peel.

The subtle and sweet smoke is never far away and whisps around each characteristic. It seems to enhance and integrate everything. Background notes give even further depth and complexity - imagine warming cinnamon bark, all-spice, cocoa powder, gingerbread and some earthy dried tobacco leaf.

The finish is lengthy and warming. The vibrant sweetness slowly dissipates to leave the warming spices and elegant soft peat smoke to grab your attention. Both work well together and drag out the finish. Right at the end a hit of drying oak and vanilla pod comes through, alongside an even later hit of dying bonfire embers.

What's the verdict?

Gosh, White Peak have done well with this release and it is one of the highlight new releases of 2023 to date. The exquisite balance between the sweeter elements, the gentle peat smoke and warming spices is great. It is easy to see why Caduro won a Gold Medal at the IWSC recently. 

To put this into perspective - only 10% of all spirits entering the competition achieve this and it was the only English single malt to get this accolade. It puts Wire Works and White Peak at the pinnacle of the English whisky scene, which is amazing considering they have only been bottling whisky for the last year.