Dining

Cotswolds limited edition Wychwood Harvest Single Malt goes down a treat at London launch

Cotswold Dram launch for Wychwood Harvest whisky

Stourton-based Cotswolds Distillery has announced the release of Cotswolds Wychwood Harvest single malt whisky, a limited edition of just 1,500 bottles, marking the fourth instalment in its annual Harvest Series

Named after the ancient Wychwood Forest in Oxfordshire, the release continues the distillery’s push to establish English whisky on the world stage, following rising global demand.

Crafted by distillery manager Alice Pearson, one of the UK’s youngest female distillers at just 25, Wychwood Harvest is a marriage of port and bourbon cask whiskies laid down nearly a decade ago.

The whisky pours with a rich hue, and delivers dark stewed fruits on the nose…

Cotswolds distillery manager Alice Pearson

English whisky comes of age

The Luxe Review got to sample Wychwood Harvest at its London launch, held at Soho’s Dram bar, and hosted by Global Brand Ambassador Rob Patchett, and Pearson herself. 

In the glass, the new release impresses immediately. Showcasing its Port influence while retaining that signature orchard-fruit character the distillery is known for.

The whisky pours with a rich hue, and delivers dark stewed fruits on the nose. On the palate vanilla notes drawn from ex-Bourbon wood mingle with gentle peat, giving the whisky unexpected breadth and structure without sacrificing balance. 

Bottled at 50% ABV, it remains approachable but rewarding when given time to open up.

There’s something else deeply satisfying about this release: a sense that English whisky, once seen as a curiosity, is coming into its own. 

The presentation follows suit, with the tube artwork designed by Oxfordshire artist Andrea Bates. Inspired by the local landscape, it captures the Cotswolds’ rolling farmland beneath a soft, clouded sky, an appropriate visual for a whisky rooted in the region’s agricultural character.

Cotswolds Wychwood Harvest Single Malt Whisky is priced at £100; it’s available from the Cotswolds Distillery and selected retailers.  

Main points at a glance: Cotswolds Wychwood Harvest Single Malt Whisky

  • Limited release of 1,500 bottles, part of the Cotswolds Distillery’s annual Harvest Series.
  • Named after Wychwood Forest in Oxfordshire, celebrating the region’s agricultural heritage.
  • Crafted by distillery manager Alice Pearson, one of the youngest female distillers in the UK at 25.
  • Matured in a mix of Port and Bourbon casks laid down nearly 10 years ago.
  • Tasting profile: deep crimson colour, notes of stewed berries, blackcurrant, dark fruit compote, soft vanilla and a gentle wisp of peat.
  • Bottled at 50% ABV, positioned as a bold but refined English single malt.
  • Sampled at launch event at Dram bar, London, confirming it as one of the distillery’s strongest releases to date.
  • Artwork by Oxfordshire artist Andrea Bates, reflecting the Cotswolds landscape.
  • Price: £100 / 70cl, available via Cotswolds Distillery and selected premium retailers worldwide.

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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