Our Founder's Choice Single Malt Whisky is our first cask strength release, made with 100% locally grown, floor-malted barley and aged exclusively in our founder Dan's favourite casks: shaved, toasted and re-charred American oak red wine barriques. These uniquely active casks give a rich and intense maturation to our fruity new make spirit, offering toffee, oak and red fruits, and a beautiful, deep colour.  Awarded 'Best English Single Malt' at the World Whiskies Awards 2019. (All bottles come with a presentation box, packed separately to avoid damage in transit.) Lovingly crafted Our Founder’s Choice release begins with our new make spirit – creamy and incredibly fruity, thanks to the pair of yeasts, 90-hour fermentation and tight heart cut on the spirit still. We dilute to 63.5% ABV for casking, and then fill the American oak STR barriques. These brilliant casks are designed to get the absolute best from the wood and provide the perfect conditions for maturing whisky. Dr Swan’s process opens up the wood, allowing for plenty of flavour and colour to be extracted. It also builds the perfect flavours in the oak – just enough influence from the original red wine, without overpowering the new make spirit, plenty of coconut and vanilla from the American oak, and deep toffee and caramel notes from the slow toasting and intense charring steps. It’s an extremely active maturation and gives a balance, depth of flavour and rich colour normally associated with much older whiskies. Bottled here at the distillery at natural cask strength, non-chill filtered and without any colouring.