UK whisky upstart Bimber Distillery has collaborated with popular blended Scotch independent bottler and blender, Compass Box, to create a set of two "Duality" expression.

The pair of expressions are said to "bring the tradition of generously trading casks to their homes in West London and have been crafted as an exploration of the symmetry and contrasts of sherry-matured whiskies and heavily peated malts".

“It has been a pleasure to create Duality with a team as passionate and inventive as Compass Box. The end results speak not only to the mindsets and approaches of both a distillery and a Whiskymaker in conjunction, but also to the incredible versatility of the component malts which have been selected for blending. The Bimber Duality bottling is the first time our London whisky has been utilised in conjunction with malts from different distilleries – we’re incredibly proud of the result and are delighted to have collaborated with Compass Box to produce this duo of Dualities.”

Matt McKay, Bimber Distillery

The Bimber Duality (54% ABV) expression was created using a peated ex-Bourbon Bimber cask and a first-fill Sherried malt from the Glendullan Distillery.

The Compass Box Duality (52% ABV) expression was created using an intensely smoky teaspooned whisky from the Ardbeg Distillery and a Pedro Ximénez Sherry matured Bimber cask.

Both expressions are made with components whiskies sourced from both England and Scotland, and "strives to juxtapose youth and maturity with texture and intensity to create new united harmonies."

“I’ve been a huge admirer of Bimber since visiting in September 2020 – my first distillery tour after lockdown! I have wanted to find a way to bring the attention to detail and distinctiveness of Bimber’s spirits into a Compass Box project since that day. Working with the Bimber team, we created Duality and a pair of releases to celebrate our West London Whiskymaking connection. Duality is unlike anything we have made at Compass Box before – the weight and texture the Bimber brings to our heavily-peated Islay malt is truly compelling.”

James Saxon, Compass Box

The Bimber Duality expression is limited to 340 bottles, while the Compass Box Duality expression will see a total of 1,050 bottles released - both will be launched on 4th July 2023, as an RRP of 120 GBP and 180 GBP respectively.

Image courtesy of Bimber and Compass Box.

88 Bamboo Editorial Team