Hunmanby-based Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and York-based Cooper King Distillery have teamed up to create a new blended malt whisky, Many Hands.
The first whisky created through an open collaboration between two English distilleries, the project began when Cooper King Distillery’s Tasmanian copper pot still developed a fault and had to be sent away for repairs.
To avoid a nine-month pause in production, Cooper King’s founders, Chris and Abbie Jaume, reached out to Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery to help fill the gap. Malt spirit from each distillery was filled separately into sibling casks and matured under one roof, before being carefully blended and bottled to create a whisky greater than the sum of its parts.
Spirit of Yorkshire whisky director Joe Clark said: “It was a straightforward decision for us to help a fellow distillery in need, especially a neighbour. Although it’s rare to see an open collaboration, it’s not surprising to us. Behind the scenes, this industry is one of the most collegiate and cooperative in the world.”
Many Hands, 48% ABV, has a nose of honeycomb, peach cobbler and blackcurrant leaf; tastes of biscuit, toasted cashews and cracked black pepper; and finishes with toasted rye bread, butter and honey.
Limited to just 1,900 bottles, it costs £95 and is available from Cooper King Distillery and selected specialist retailers throughout the UK.
£1 from every bottle sold is donated to Cooper King’s charity partner, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, which funds life-changing apprenticeships for young people in rural areas and helps protect vital UK habitats.
For more information, visit www.spiritofyorkshire.com