The Whisky Trail White Peak Distillery 2018 Vintage Single Malt English Whisky 70 cl 52,4%

In an old wireworks beside the River Derwent, surrounded by Derbyshire's UNESCO-listed industrial heritage, White Peak Distillery brews and distils a malt that borrows as much from brewing craft as from whisky tradition. This bottling was selected by Sukhinder Singh for Elixir Distillers' series The Whisky Trail and shows the distillery's style as it stood in its early years.

Expert's Description

The Whisky Trail White Peak Distillery 2018 Vintage is a Single Malt English Whisky matured in first fill bourbon casks and bottled at 52.4%.

White Peak Distillery was founded in 2016 by husband and wife Max and Claire Vaughan in the former Johnson & Nephew wireworks in Ambergate, within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. The distillery ferments with both brewer's yeast from local brewer Thornbridge and traditional distiller's yeast, and part of the mash is made from lightly peated malt, giving the spirit a discreet smoky undertone beneath its fresh, fruity core. This bottling was distilled in 2018, bottled in 2025 from a small batch of four first fill bourbon casks, and is limited to 1,254 bottles.

The Whisky Trail is part of Elixir Trails, where Sukhinder Singh — co-founder of Elixir Distillers and one of the whisky world's most respected bottlers — selects single distilleries for their craft and character rather than name or hype.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla and soft caramel from the bourbon cask, backed by a faint smoky undertone and fresh apples.

Palate

The palate is fruity with ripe pear and citrus peel, while a soft malty sweetness and a hint of smoke add depth without taking over.

Finish

The finish is medium in length and spiced, with a final trace of wood smoke and vanilla powder.

Specifications

Name: The Whisky Trail White Peak Distillery 2018 Vintage
Distillery: White Peak Distillery
Bottler: Elixir Distillers
Region/Country: Derbyshire, England
Type: Single Malt English Whisky
Age: 7 years
ABV: 52.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: First fill bourbon casks
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 1,254
Edition: The Whisky Trail

Flavour Profile

Fruity · Lightly Smoky · Creamy · Spiced

Investment Potential

Medium — The Whisky Trail is a new series from Elixir Distillers, and as one of the first releases to carry Sukhinder Singh's name, early bottlings from White Peak Distillery are seeing rising interest from collectors following the distillery's progress closely.

Did You Know?

White Peak Distillery uses yeast from local brewer Thornbridge in its fermentation — a method more common in brewing than in whisky production, giving the distillery's spirit an unusually fruity character even before it reaches the cask.

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Frequently Asked Questions about The Whisky Trail White Peak Distillery 2018 Vintage

Is The Whisky Trail White Peak Distillery worth the money?

Yes, based on rarity and quality: only 1,254 bottles from a small batch of four casks, selected by Sukhinder Singh for Elixir Distillers' new series The Whisky Trail. White Peak is one of the most talked-about new English distilleries, and early bottlings like this typically see rising attention from collectors.

Is this whisky peated?

Only lightly. Part of the mash is made from peated malt, giving a discreet smoky note beneath the fruity, vanilla-led main character from the bourbon casks.

How many bottles were released?

1,254 bottles from a batch of four first fill bourbon casks — once they're sold, this precise combination of vintage and cask will not be released again.

What is The Whisky Trail?

It's a new series from Elixir Distillers, curated by Sukhinder Singh, which selects single distilleries around the world for their craft and character rather than fame.

Should water be added to this whisky?

Try it neat first. A few drops of water can bring out the citrus and apple notes further, but the high strength of 52.4% also holds up well drunk neat in a nosing glass.

What defines White Peak Distillery's character?

The distillery uses yeast from local brewer Thornbridge alongside standard distiller's yeast, giving an unusually fruity spirit even before cask maturation. See our full range of English Whisky here.

Does this whisky make a good gift?

Yes, the combination of a buzzy new series and a limited bottle count makes it a fitting gift for an enthusiast who follows what's happening on the English whisky scene right now.