White Peak

Founded in 2017 by Max and Claire Vaughan in a old wire works on the banks of the River Derwent (halfway between Matlock and Belper), the White Peak Distillery is the culmination of a long term dream to have whisky made in Derbyshire. Although their whiskies will be released very soon (at the time of typing in September 2021) they are already garnering a great reputation thanks to some excellent gins and rum.

Shining Cliff Gin is named after the nearby Shining Cliff Woods, an ancient forest which is now designated a Site of Speciali Scientific Interest, and also the home of the Betty Kenny Tree, which is said to be 2000 years old and was the treetop in which 'Rock-A-Bye-Baby' would sit in the old nursery rhyme.

Rum is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and there are plenty of British rums brands who are sourcing rum from the Caribbean and elsewhere, doing a bit of work on it, and releasing it as their own. But White Peak are doing things properly, using their experience in whisky production so produce their own rum too. This is an Agricole style rum, using sugar cane juice as opposed to molasses, which provides a lighter, fresher flavour profile. It's been aged in charred American oak casks - I'm assuming ex-Bourbon, as there's a distinct vanilla note alongside hints of butterscotch and runny caramel, particularly on the nose. On the palate however, that soft nose belies the sweet toffee notes working in conjunction with the spiky style that cane juice offers. One could easily taste this blind and think it's a rum-cask finished whisky, such are the high notes throughout. It's an absolute belter of a sipping rum, but would also work brilliantly in a Daiquiri!