The Oxford Artisan Distillery Rye Whisky - Purple Grain

One of the pioneers of English distilling, The Oxford Artisan Distillery is all about sustainable farming and using heritage grains, which are grain varieties that were grown before the introduction of intensive, scientific plant breeding. It celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2022 with this cask strength rye whisky! 

Purple Grain is made from 70% heritage rye, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley, and gets its name because, after two years in charred American oak casks, it was moved to purple moscatel casks from Setúbal, Portugal to mature for another year and two months. Purple moscatel is a variety of grape which was almost lost entirely due to the risk of phylloxera, but it’s been revived and The Oxford Artisan Distillery is making the most of it! The distillery’s classic buttery, pastry-like notes are bolstered by nuts and dried red fruit from the cask.