Single Grain English Whisky | 57.1% ABV

The Value Hunt

I’m sure a lot of the readership might pick out a common theme here on Dramface where reviews drop on the daily (apart from post-Glasgow Whisky Festival hiatus shenanigans). The theme wouldn’t typically be ‘the best’, ‘the worst’ or ‘the most expensive’. To quote Black Panther, ‘We don’t do that here’.

It’s often so much to do with the big topic of value in whisky. Bang for our buck; whisky that excites us while not filling us with buyers' regret and financial plunder. Value seems to be something I tend to blend into reviews more often than not as I habitually keep bottle purchases to nothing expensive or extreme, always looking out for that next wee belter of a whisky.

We’ve also never had as much choice in whisky as we do today. It’s insane. Within the British Isles alone there are so many new distilleries starting to make a name for themselves. As well as more being built every day. Looking at England and Ireland alone; how many new distilleries have popped up over the past ten years? We’re approaching a hundred. However, if you’re talking about value, I wouldn’t be looking at much coming from Ireland, personally speaking. While it may have decent gear, it is also too expensive. Even as an Irishman, no thank you.

If you’re anything like me, you might find the sheer amount of whisky available right now quite overwhelming. Thankfully I’m (somehow) rid of that constant fear-of-missing-out monster who chased me in the early days of this wonderful whisky rabbit hole. FOMO in regard to new releases, new brands and new avenues of flavour that I’ve yet to experience. But overwhelming in the sense where I don’t really know where to start. Especially when I’m handing over my limited cash, I’m deathly afraid of picking up a dud bottle. I’ve been stung before in auctions, and also disappointed by that M&S Kilchoman offering too. Although the outlay was minimal there.

Having something like Dramface and speaking with other whisky folk helps me keep a finger on the pulse when it comes to what to try next or where to keep an eye out. Which is kind of how I came across the bottle I’m reviewing today. After noticing this release on Royal Mile Whiskies, any release from Thompson Bros will catch my eye. With the gorgeous labelling and very reasonable price offerings, I was intrigued by their decision to release a three year old English whisky; and a single grain at that. If the brothers themselves are excited by such a bottle, we have to stop and pay attention too.

I then heard of Circumstance again through the Aqvavitae vPub. A live vPub while in Dornoch and shortly after as an ‘almost’ new whisky. But no other noise about this small producer or how their whisky is being perceived. So with the price of around £55/60, I was curious how this English whisky would taste and the experience I might have with it.

Having sampled a few whiskies from England, I’ll be honest and say there hasn’t been anything special yet. Not a liquid that stands above the rest when it comes to whisky availability. It’ll always need to compete with Scotch for me, that’s the standard in which it will be held. Bimber, Cotswolds, The Lakes, etc all decent stuff. Pricey though. For stuff under 8 years old, at the prices, I expect more engagement. So, given the prices offered from Circumstance, we need to look at them from a value perspective. Perhaps, at the moment, they’re England’s best value whisky.

These guys, hailing from Bristol, are small-scale producers. Therefore, as you’d expect, there really isn’t a lot going about or available right now. When you visit their official website, they notify you of their new organic single grain which is limited to 792 bottles at a ‘whopping’ £55. If this was a release in Ireland, it would be multiple times that. More expensive also if this was from another English producer. Their other core bottlings to date are coming in at either £45 or £55, which, on paper, is tremendous value.

If we glance at the retail prices of what’s out there for other English whiskies and compare it to any other small scale producer, the folks at Circumstance are demonstrating to everyone that whisky can be made to a reasonable price at small scale. As enthusiasts and whisky lovers, all we ask is that it be good stuff in the bottle. With these relatively inexpensive releases - compared to their countrymen - we might applaud these guys at what they’re doing right now, and maybe build optimism for what else is to come in the future.

It’s already up against some big names and established makers right now. Not to mention the World’s Best Single Malt for The English Distillery Sherry Cask offering. The likes of Bimber, Wire Works, Lakes etc come in anywhere from £10 - 50 more than what Circumstance are asking us for their range right now. So stand up whisky folk and take notice. The English are at it, but this time in a good way. A good whisky way.

Review

Thompson Bros Circumstance 3yo, Single Grain English Whisky, 85% malted barley, 15% unmalted barley, 57.1% ABV
£55-ish limited availability

The label at the back of this bottle gives us some fantastic information and transparency upon the liquid inside. This whisky has been created by combining 85% distilling malt with 15% raw barley. A unique mixture indeed that reminds us of some Irish distilling mashups. It states that a clear wort was fermented using saison yeast for 10 -14 days during the summer months (I’d love to try something done in winter as a side by side). Distillation is done in a steel pot (how significantly different) with a copper head/neck and 4 plate copper column, filled into ex-bourbon barrels. Incredible. Now let’s see how this influences the whisky.

Nose

Quite bright on the initial nose. Very fresh, bringing forth a little vegetal note. Think of potato skins and raw button mushrooms. It’s then followed by a round and soft sweetness in the form of rhubarb and custard sweets. Plenty of velvety vanillas and dried wood bouncing around in the background too. Good influence from the ex-bourbon cask here but not too domineering. Tinned pears with sugar syrup. Opening up even further with tropical blasts, and right in the background are hobnob biscuits and a touch of treacle.

Palate

Grain. Malted barley. Oat biscuits. Right up my street and couldn’t ask for a better start. Punchy but a little drying on the tongue, in a good way. You find sliced green apples, dark roasted coffee and a long lingering taste of icing sugar, which develops into more of a cake fondant. There’s a great balance here. Such an enjoyable whisky. It’s fruity. Tropical and vibrant. The back end of the sip and taste I'm finding pear drop sweets; my absolute favourite. Such an engaging dram. The mouthfeel is nicely weighted. Not thin or heavy, with a long honeyed finish rounding things off.

The Dregs

My first time tasting this was at the Aqvavitae Blind Challenge, on the Sunday after Glasgow’s Whisky Festival this year. Within a line up that had a Springbank 12 Cask Strength, a Loch Lomond Chardonnay yeast 12 year old among others (there were five blind drams in total) …and I can admit that this was dead last in my preferences on the day. I can hear you all laugh, don’t worry.

Earlier that day Ben ‘Whisky With Molly’ handed me a bottle of this, he had been storing it away for me for quite some time and it’s been one I've been so excited to try. After the bottle was revealed, we both glanced at each other and laughed at how poorly this whisky had done on the day.

Yes, within a particular line up I personally didn’t place it high, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad whisky. There were zero bad whiskies that were had that day. If anything, I was keen to get home and try this as a solo pour and to get to know it a bit more.

With a comfy armchair, time, no noise, and no other whiskies in sight, I can tell you this performed magically.

It’s a wonderful bottle.

It’s not massively complex, but it ticks all the right boxes for me in terms of what I’m looking for in a whisky. With company I can pour this and everyone can enjoy it. If I want more engagement this can offer up a great whisky moment through nosing and tasting.

Circumstance seems to be offering some stellar whiskies at affordable prices. I haven’t tried anything else from them, yet, but at a mere three years old the only way is up if you ask me. With plenty of availability on the main UK drink specialist websites, I’ll be on the hunt for more of this liquid and surprising experiences. If you can get this Thompson Bros offering, grab it without hesitation. But see what else they have and keep a close eye on what is yet to come. This brings bags of value. It’s affordable and a great whisky that I think you’ll all very much enjoy.

Just don’t pour it alongside a Campbeltown giant.

Score: 7/10

Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. HF

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