White Peak
White Peak Wire Works Alter Ego English Single Malt Whisky 51.5% 70cl
- Details
The White Peak Distillery is based in Ambergate, Derbyshire, 12 miles North of Derby city centre. It was founded by Max and Claire Vaughan in 2016, following a dream for years of producing a single malt whisky in Derbyshire, despite no previous experience in the drinks industry. The distillery is sited in a 24km stretch of the Derwent Valley that was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001, within the old Maintenance and Store Sheds of the Johnson & Nephew wire works that date back to 1876 and lasted for 120 years, which itself was rebuilt from a family owned iron forge from the early 1800s. The motto for the distillery is taken from that of the wire works – Virtus Patienta Veritus, the virtue of patience and truth.
Initial releases from White Peak include a range of gins and a Cask Aged Rum, with their first Single Malt Whisky release initially scheduled for launch in November of 2021. However, supply issues with the distinctive bottle that pays homage to the wire and cable produced by the old factory meant the first release was delayed to February 2022.
The team employ a long fermentation and use two copper pot stills of 3,000 and 2,100 litres in volume. Water is sourced from the River Derwent immediately adjacent to the distillery, utilising some of the old pumping infrastructure for their condenser cooling system. English barley is used, and when I visited a couple of days before the launch of their First Release the team had begun a run of spirit that was using barley taken purely from Derbyshire.
Launched in June 2023, Alter Ego is so named because in the very early days of production distillation cut points were changed for a few months to see what the effect would be. The result seems to be a more fruitier whisky than the previous Small Batch and Caduro - no doubt due in part to a higher proportion of ex-Bourbon to STR casks being used. The low, dark smokiness inherent to Wire Works also feels to be slightly more upfront - not by a massive amount, but noticeable.
It's fascinating to taste Alter Ego side-by-side with Caduro - the house style is clearly present in both, but they are both two different beasts!
- Delivery & Returns
DELIVERY CHARGES:
Shipping rates are based on WEIGHT of goods - the total weight of your order will determine the cost of the shipping charge due to price banding imposed by Royal Mail. Orders weighing up to a max of 2kg will be charged £5.99, and orders weighing over 2kg will be charged £7.99. ANY PURCHASE OVER £150 WILL RECEIVE FREE SHIPPING.
PLEASE NOTE: The Spirit Specialist is CLOSED on Sundays and Mondays - all orders are collected by Royal Mail the day after they are packaged up. As such, if you place an order on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday, your order will be packaged up on the following Tuesday at re-opening, and then collected by Royal Mail on the Wednesday morning. PLEASE BEAR THIS IN MIND IF YOU ARE WORKING TO A DEADLINE!
DUE TO ONGOING ISSUES WITH BREXIT AND COURIERS UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO SHIP OUTSIDE OF THE UK
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Items are NOT insured as standard, please contact us if you would like to discuss additional insurance for premium products.
All products are securely packaged in Air-Shock bottle bags or frankly excessive amounts of bubble wrap for additional protection.
All goods must be examined at the time of delivery and any damages or shortage must be recorded on the relevant delivery acceptance forms with the delivery. Un-examined or un-checked goods that result in a subsequent claim outside of a 48 hour period will not be accepted. Queries relating to claims must be made within 48 hours of receiving the goods, otherwise claims cannot be guaranteed.
