June brought us the seventh batch of Bimber’s ‘The Spirit of the Underground‘ releases, and though we’re a little behind the curve—as you’ve probably come to expect from me—it’s finally time to give them the attention they deserve. This series continues to celebrate London and its landmarks through limited edition single malts, and Batch 7 is no exception. We’ll be tasting and discussing the drams of the Bimber Underground Release No. 7 in alphabetical order, beginning with Bimber Euston, followed by Knightsbridge, Liverpool Street, and Westminster.
Bimber Euston (2025) Review
Bimber Euston, part of Release No. 7 of the ‘The Spirit of the Underground’ series from London’s Bimber Distillery (like the three other whiskies from this review), is an English single malt whisky matured in a single ex-bourbon cask #322. This limited release yielded 257 bottles, each bottled at cask strength (57.9% ABV), with no added colouring and non-chill filtered. As usual with Bimber limited releases, it’s sold out, so your only chance will be the secondary market. I think the original RRP was £135 a bottle.
Colour:
Tawny.
Nose:
Neat: The nose displays vanilla and custard notes followed by juicy sultanas. Additional aromas include milk caramel and Frosties cereal. Upon pouring, fresh wood aromas are noticeable but lessen with aeration.
With water: Vanilla intensifies alongside a hint of pencil shavings.
Palate:
Neat: As usual with Bimber, the palate shows significant wood extraction, with clear oak flavours. The cask contributes vanilla sugar, coconut husk, subtle chocolate, and butterscotch. Spices such as cinnamon powder and pepper appear, balanced by citrus notes of fresh lemon and grapefruit juice.
With water: Citrus elements become more prominent, featuring lemon, grapefruit, and orange, accompanied by peppered chocolate, coffee, toasted oak, and pencil shavings.
Finish:
The finish carries a mild heat with lingering wood tannins, leaving a slightly dry sensation and persistent oak flavour on the tongue.
Comments:
This is a well-crafted Bimber matured in an ex-bourbon cask. However, the balance leans towards toasted oak, which limits its overall appeal compared to some previous releases. Still, it presents a solid dram.
Rating: 6.5/10
Bimber Knightsbridge (2025) Review
Next, we have the Bimber Knightsbridge, which was matured in a single Moscatel sherry cask (cask #435) and bottled at cask strength (58.1% ABV), without chill filtration or added colour. The release had an outturn of 290 bottles, also long gone.
Colour:
Russet with a lovely orange hue.
Nose:
Neat: The nose offers more fruity notes than Euston, with peach and apricot aromas, accompanied by the scent of fruit juice cooking in a copper pan. Menthol, liquorice, and a faint woody smoke note are also present.
With water: Adding too much water dulls and sharpens the nose simultaneously, producing a somewhat aggressive but blurred aroma. Recognisable scents include stewed apricots and peaches.
Palate:
Neat: The arrivel is hot and woody, with notable sugar syrup and sultanas, balanced by pepper and apricot jam. The palate also presents praline dessert cream, soft caramel, and sliced almonds, with a creamy, thick mouthfeel typical of Bimber.
With water: The palate briefly sweetens before returning to a chocolatey wood bitterness, a pinch of pepper, and subtle floral notes.
Finish:
The finish features chocolate, toasted wood bitterness, blond tobacco, and a tingling pepper sensation on the upper lip.
Comments:
The palate of this Bimber Knightsbridge surpasses the ones from Euston slightly, although a less expressive nose brings the two releases to an equal rating.
Rating: 6.5/10
Bimber Liverpool Street (2025) Review
Third dram following the alphabetical order, Bimber Liverpool Street matured exclusively in a single Pedro Ximénez sherry cask (cask #444), and was bottled at cask strength (58.7% ABV), free from chill filtration and artificial colouring, with a total outturn of 298 bottles. Sold-out as usual.
Colour:
Tawny with an orange hue.
Nose:
Neat: The nose displays raisins, dates, and soft toasted wood notes, with hints of cinnamon, blond tobacco, caramel, and almonds.
With water: Adding water reduces intensity slightly and tones down the nose.
Palate:
Neat: The palate starts slightly thinner than others but quickly develops a creamy mouthfeel. Flavours include caramel, icing sugar, milk chocolate, dried cranberries, hazelnuts, and walnuts, joined by green apple, pepper, ginger, and chilli.
With water: Apple and spice notes become stronger, with a pronounced pepper and chilli bite on the tongue’s tip. As spices subside, darker chocolate and apple caramel emerge.
Finish:
The finish is medium in length, with lingering spices and caramelised Granny Smith apple notes reminiscent of tarte tatin, along with returning milk chocolate.
Comments:
This Bimber Liverpool Street offers a classic and well-balanced profile. Water enhances the palate spices but softens the nose, so cautious dilution is advisable. Neat, it definitely is a very good whisky.
Rating: 7/10
Bimber Westminster (2025) Review
Last but not least, the Bimber Westminster matured exclusively in a single ex-Madeira cask (cask #108/2), this release being also bottled at cask strength (57.2% ABV), with just 242 bottles in total and no chill filtration or added colouring. And obviously sold out as well.
Colour:
Burnt umber.
Nose:
Neat: The nose offers aromas of bitter orange, old leather furniture, cedar, dark chocolate, forest honey, and estery notes.
With water: Scents of sun-dried grapes, cognac hints, light citrus sharpness, and mandarins develop.
Palate:
Neat: The palate has a syrupy mouthfeel, opening with apple caramel, orange, cranberry juice, brown sugar, lime juice, and tobacco leaves, followed by a spice hit.
With water: The palate reveals more orange, dark caramel, chocolate, additional tobacco, softer wood spices, and hints of red berries.
Finish:
The finish is peppery, with orange oil, dark chocolate, and a subtle mentholated liquorice note.
Comments:
This Bimber Westminster stands out as the best of the four for me. Water enhances it to an even higher level, releasing a slight vineous character on the nose. A very satisfying dram.
Rating: 7.5/10
Samples, bottle pictures and The Spirit of the Underground map provided by Bimber.