I'll be honest — when someone hands me a single cask rye whisky from East London Liquor Co at 62.1% ABV, my first thought isn't "easy sipper." My first thought is: this is going to be interesting. And interesting is exactly what English rye whisky needs to be right now.
East London Liquor Co has been one of the more credible players in England's young whisky scene, and this Whisky Show 2023 exclusive — a single rye finished in sherry casks — is the kind of release that shows ambition. Rye whisky made in England is still a rarity. Most of the craft distilling movement here has leaned toward malt, so choosing rye as your grain and then throwing a sherry cask at it tells me these are people who want to make something with real character, not just something safe enough to sell at a gift shop.
At 62.1%, this is bottled at proper cask strength. No water added, no apologies. That's a bold choice for a limited release, and the right one. It means you're getting the whisky exactly as it came out of that sherry cask, with all the intensity and texture intact. For anyone used to American rye at 50-55%, this is a step up in firepower — but cask strength rye done well rewards patience. A few drops of water will open this up considerably, and I'd encourage you to experiment.
The sherry cask influence is the real talking point here. Rye grain naturally brings spice and a certain dry, peppery backbone. Marry that with the dried fruit sweetness and nuttiness that a good sherry cask delivers, and you've got a combination that can genuinely sing. It's a pairing that makes structural sense — the spice from the rye and the richness from the sherry should complement rather than compete. Think of it as the English answer to a sherried bourbon, except with that distinctive rye bite running through the middle.
Tasting Notes
As a Whisky Show 2023 exclusive single cask, specific tasting notes will vary by individual experience. What I can say is that cask strength sherry-finished rye at this proof level typically delivers big, concentrated flavours — expect warmth, spice, and dried fruit character in spades. This is not a wallflower.
The Verdict
At £79.95 for a cask strength, single cask, show-exclusive release, the pricing is fair — arguably generous compared to what Scottish distilleries charge for similar limited bottlings. You're paying for something genuinely uncommon: English rye whisky, sherry cask matured, at full strength, from a single barrel. That's a lot of specificity in one bottle, and specificity is what makes whisky collecting worthwhile.
I'm giving this a 7.9 out of 10. It earns that score on ambition, value, and the sheer novelty of what it represents. English rye is a category that barely exists yet, and East London Liquor Co is making a credible case for it. The sherry cask finish adds complexity and commercial appeal without dumbing anything down, and the cask strength bottling shows confidence in the liquid. If you're the kind of drinker who gets excited about where whisky is going rather than where it's been, this bottle belongs on your radar.
Best Served
Pour it neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to breathe — at 62.1%, it needs the air. Then add water gradually, a few drops at a time, until the alcohol heat steps back and the sherry influence comes forward. If you're feeling adventurous, this would make a phenomenal Manhattan — that rye spice and sherry sweetness are practically built for sweet vermouth. Use a 2:1 ratio, a barspoon of rich demerara syrup, and two dashes of Angostura. You won't regret it.
