That Boutique-y Whisky Company, the multi-award-winning independent bottler known for its daring small-batch releases and instantly recognisable comic-book labels, introduces a bold new addition to its growing core range: the 8-Year-Old English Rye.
Made from a high-rye mash bill and matured for eight years in toasted French oak, this English whisky is anything but traditional. To deepen the profile and add a coastal dimension, the team has blended in a measure of English single malt finished in an ex-Islay cask a deft move that introduces a restrained smokiness to balance the rye’s natural fire. The result is a dram of intriguing complexity and depth, marrying the sharp spice of rye with the soft richness of orchard fruits, caramelised nuts, and charred oak.
On the nose, it opens with bold notes of cracked black pepper and dried citrus, supported by marzipan, toasted almonds and a dusting of cinnamon. There’s a quiet suggestion of charred wood and cocoa that pulls through from the Islay influence. The palate follows with confidence: honeyed rye bread, warming spice, and a nostalgic touch of rum and raisin fudge sit alongside dried berries and just a flicker of smoke. As it develops, hints of earthy coffee and oaken vanilla build toward a long, warming finish where mocha and pepper linger, softened by a honeyed sweetness.
The label, in true Boutique-y fashion, tells a story all of its own. Illustrated by Emily Chappell, it features the English Longhorn a stately native breed thought to have originated in northern England, echoing the whisky’s heritage and earthy complexity. It’s a fitting emblem for a bottling that celebrates tradition without being beholden to it.
While That Boutique-y Whisky Company has built a reputation on its eclectic limited editions, its core range launched in 2023 reflects a new chapter. These permanent expressions are hand-selected by in-house whisky specialists Sam Simmons and Dave Worthington and champion the idea that great whisky should be flavour-first, unpretentious and accessible.
This 8-Year-Old English Rye is a bold continuation of that mission. Available via Master of Malt, this is a whisky that speaks with clarity and confidence, an expressive rye underpinned by an unexpected whisper of Islay smoke.
