Devon-based and family-owned, Dartmoor Whisky Distillery has been named by industry experts as among the top food and drink producers globally this year, picking up 3 highly-prized Great Taste awards; a 2-star for their incredible American Oak Ex-Bourbon Cask Single Malt and two 1-stars for their Ex-Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky and Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Single Malt Whisky in the 2022 awards.
More than 14,000 products were put through the competition’s rigorous blind judging process; and Dartmoor Whisky Distillery’s products were dubbed “characterful, well-integrated and enjoyable” at the world’s most coveted food and drink awards. 4,078 products (29% of all entrants) were awarded a Great Taste 1-star – ‘food and drink that delivers fantastic flavour’, 1,237 (just over 8% of all entrants) were awarded a Great Taste 2-star – ‘above and beyond delicious’, and 241 (just under 2% of all entrants) were awarded a Great Taste 3-star – ‘extraordinarily tasty food and drink’.
A great hit with the judges, they described the 2-star American Oak Ex-Bourbon Cask Single Malt as “very up-front on the nose with vanilla, toastiness, estery and not overly floral. Initial sweetness on the palate gives way to clean flavours, lots of bourbon sweetness, toasted brioche. A very characterful, distinctive whisky with a long and lingering finish.” They continued “We liked the aroma of pear drops and custard from this single malt whisky. On the palate there were definite vanilla custard and poached pear notes along with burnt toffee. We enjoyed it a lot, especially the complex lingering finish.”
The 1-star Ex-Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky was reported, “a very complex and dazzling aroma and a beautiful golden straw colour. Sweetness is apparent with very light caramel and nuts on the palate. An appealing pale gold in the glass; a youthful nose carries hints of hazelnut and almond, and dried fruit as suggested. Lively on the palate, this needs a glug of water to evince smoothness and something more akin to marzipan and fruit cake. The sherry cask has imparted sound character, and a roundedness that belies its youth. We’d love to sample this after further ageing, this appears carefully and successfully made with balance and flavour beyond its years.”
Finally, but by no means least, the 1-star Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Single Malt Whisky was given the feedback of “Clear, bright, medium amber colour with a hint of rose. Fragrant on the nose, exhibiting fresh, youthful notes of green apple, banana skins, with touch of vanilla. The alcohol on the palate is initially assertive opening to bright estery notes, ripe tropical fruit, coconut and underpinned by lightly charred wood, tropical spice. A caramel sweetness comes through on the finish. This is a fragrant, appealing whisky, subtly nuanced and with some complexity. A gorgeous rich deep copper colour. We got a subtle note of chocolate on the nose with some burnt orange, the palate was really refined and beautifully balanced and we get the wine gum reference!”
The first single malt distillery in Devon, Dartmoor Whisky Distillery utilise Devon’s rich and fertile soil to grow quality crops of barley; use the granite geology of Dartmoor to produce the freshest spring water and the county’s unique climate, exceptional air quality and sea breezes to provide the ultimate storage during maturation. It’s no wonder 3 of their products were some of 5,556 products to receive a Great Taste award in 2022 (which is only 39.1% of the total products entered).
Greg Millar, founder of Dartmoor Whisky Distillery comments: “This is the first time that we have entered any food and drink awards, and we are completely overwhelmed to have not only be awarded stars for every product we entered; but to be in the top 8% of products with our American Oak Ex-Bourbon Cask Single Malt!
He continues “Being recognised with a selection of Great Taste awards means so much to small, independent, artisan producers such as Dartmoor Whisky Distillery; it makes all the late nights, hard work and determination worth it! Great Taste is the most recognised accolade for taste and quality in the food and drink world, so adding the iconic gold taste logo to not just 1, but 3 of our products is a really big and a special win for us!”
Dartmoor Whisky products are sold nationwide via their online shop, and distributed throughout the UK via hundreds of stockists including spirits shops, farm shops and independent stores. You can see their full list of stockists here.