Dining

Northumberland Ad Gefrin distillery launches cask strength Tácnbora Cognac Cask Finish whisky

Bottles of Special Edition Tacnbora-Ad Gefrin whisky

A new limited-edition whisky has been released by Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Northumberland. The Tácnbora Limited Edition: Cognac Cask Finish is a small-batch cask strength blend, finished in ex-Cognac oak.

This release marks the next step in Ad Gefrin’s journey toward its first Northumbrian Single Malt, which is due in 2026. The name Tácnbora, taken from Old English, refers to the ceremonial ‘standard bearer’ who would lead royal processions, a symbolic nod to the blend’s role in leading the distillery’s whisky development.

The Tácnbora blend combines selected Scottish and Irish whiskies, brought together and finished in Northumberland. This latest edition has been matured a further six months in ex-Cognac oak casks, enhancing the whisky’s signature sweetness with added structure, fruit and spice.

Just six casks have been bottled, making for a limited release of between 1,800 and 2,000 individually numbered bottles. The whisky is presented at natural cask strength of 58.6% ABV and is non-chill filtered and naturally coloured.

The Tácnbora blend combines selected Scottish and Irish whiskies, brought together and finished in Northumberland…

Official tasting notes for the Cognac Cask Finish describe a complex and expressive dram. The nose opens with honey, raisins and sandalwood, rounded with clover and sweet custard. On the palate, fudge and dried fruit lead into resin and gentle spice, before finishing long with notes of gorse flower, soft honey and freshly sawn wood.

Ben Murphy, Director of Distilling at Ad Gefrin, said: “The Cognac finish adds a dry fruit character and gentle spice that enhances the signature sweetness of Tácnbora. It’s a wonderful example of how different casks can elevate a whisky while still retaining its heart.”

The Cognac Cask Finish follows the sell-out success of the Tácnbora Peated Islay Cask edition, launched in 2023, and is expected to attract similar interest. Bottles are priced at £57.

The release complements the distillery’s ongoing Corenkyn Blends programme, an exclusive four-part whisky series for founding members, which includes previous expressions matured in ex-Bourbon, Rum and Madeira casks.

The Cognac Cask Finish is available from the Ad Gefrin visitor centre and online at www.adgefrin.co.uk.

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About Steve May

Creator of Home Cinema Choice magazine, and Editor of The Luxe Review, Steve muses and reviews for Trusted Reviews, T3, Home Cinema Choice, Games Radar, Good Housekeeping, Louder Sounds, StereoNet and Boat International. He’s also the editor of professional home cinema website Inside CI. He's on Twitter/X, Tiktok and Instagram as @SteveMay_UK