The London Distillery Company traces its origins to 1807, when Ralph Dodd proposed building a distillery in Nine Elms, London. Despite raising funds and assembling a board of prominent figures, the venture collapsed following a legal challenge under the Bubble Act, which led to its disbandment before production could even start. Nearly two centuries later, Darren Rook and Nick Taylor revived the company in 2011, establishing a modern distillery in Battersea focused on producing English single malt and blended whisky. After encountering financial difficulties in 2020, the company entered administration but experienced a revival in January 2025 under new ownership by Gleann Mor Spirits. Experienced whisky maker Matt McKay, known for his currently silent whisky blog, The Dramble, as well as his role as director of communications and whisky maker at Bimber and Dunphail distilleries, now leads its renewed efforts to craft London-based whisky. The first release from this revival, aptly named London Distillery Renascence – The Revival Release, will launch on 6 June 2025, and we have it in our glass today.
London Distillery Renascence – The Revival Release (2025) Review
The London Distillery Renascence – The Revival Release is crafted from heritage barley, specifically Plumage Archer, distilled during the London Distillery’s initial operational period from 2011 to 2020. This release comprises six casks: refill barrels and their oldest first-fill sherry casks. Given the limited outturn of only 410 bottles, it suggests either the use of small casks or significant evaporation during maturation.
Despite its high bottling strength of 58% ABV, this is not at cask strength, as Matt McKay slightly reduced the vatting by a little over one percent ABV to help the different casks coalesce, or marry, as some might say. The bottles are unchill-filtered and retain their natural colour. They will be available exclusively from Berry Bros & Rudd starting on the 6th of June 2025, with a recommended retail price of £89.
Colour:
Burnished
Nose:
Neat: The nose offers good intensity, with the alcohol present but not overpowering. It presents notes of oranges, plums, raisins, and lychees, along with some floral hints and a touch of acetone. The first-fill sherry integrates well, providing hints of figs and dates without any winey aromas or excessive wood. A soft dustiness reminiscent of old books, along with a bit of hay and heather, adds complexity. It comes across as slightly austere but is definitely pleasant.
With water: After dilution, warm custard-filled pastries appear, accompanied by stewed apricots and mandarins.
Palate:
Neat: The palate is quite chewy, featuring bright apricots, pears, and peaches, followed by a burst of spices and the citrusy, bitter tang of grapefruit. Notes of durian fruit and wood, not present on the nose, make an appearance. The spices and citrus dominate, leaning more towards chilli and Tabasco than pepper, with the tartness of grapefruit and the bitterness and richness of very dark chocolate (80–90%). Herbaceous notes of freshly cut grass and spent tea leaves are also present. This is not for the whisky novice, but its distinctiveness and personality are appealing. A very light astringency is noticeable as well.
With water: Reduction tames the spiciness, revealing a lovely citrus character with various lemons and lemon tea. A light nuttiness hides in the background, along with hints of strawberries and cherries.
Finish:
The bitterness, tartness, and spiciness persist, with the spiciness and astringency outlasting the first two. The dark chocolate and citrus notes leave a pleasant warmth on the tongue, while slightly drying the gums. Dark chocolate remains, with whispers of mint and eucalyptus.
Comments:
You might wonder about this spelling, as did I, for the word we commonly know as ‘renaissance’. While ‘renaissance’ refers to the return of something being popular, ‘renascence’ signifies something lost that has been reborn. Thus, it is fitting that this lesser-known variant was chosen to name this revival release from a lost distillery that is being reborn.
This London Distillery Renascence – The Revival Release (boy this name is long) presents two distinct characters, making it quite intriguing. When neat, it offers intensity, particularly on the palate, even though it comes across as slightly austere on the nose. After dilution, it brightens, with the spiciness on the palate subdued, allowing the lemons to stand out.
What truly captivates me is how the Plumage Archer barley contributes something uniquely different. I struggle to describe it precisely due to a lack of words and experience, but it undoubtedly adds personality and singularity. For this alone, it is worth exploring. Fortunately, the whisky is not just unique; it is also quite good!
Rating: 7.5/10
Sample and pictures provided by London Distillery Company.