APRIL 2025: Spirit of Birmingham - " Nevermind"

Brand

Location

Expression

ABV

Age

Casks Used

Spirit of Birmingham

Birmingham, England

Single cask sample from "Nevermind"

48%

2yrs 1 mth

Cask name: "Nevermind" - French Oak, English Pinot Noir Cask

The Whisky:-

The Grain: 100% English Grown Organic Plumage Archer

Not all barley is created equal — and Plumage Archer proves it.

 

For our first single malt, Anthony chose this rare, English-grown, organic heritage grain not just for its history, but for its flavour. Originally introduced in 1905, Plumage Archer was once the go-to barley for brewers and distillers across the UK. But over the years, it was replaced by higher-yield, more commercially viable varieties. What got lost? Depth, complexity, and character.

Our Plumage Archer barley is traditionally floor-malted at Warminster Maltings, the oldest working maltings in the UK. Warminster has been perfecting their craft since 1855 - and it shows. The slow, hands-on malting process honours the grain and brings out its rich, biscuit-forward malt profile. The result? A beautifully expressive single malt spirit with warmth, structure, and a long, elegant finish.

 

This is barley with a story. Malted with care. Distilled with intention. And when the time comes. It will be bottled with pride.

 

Crafted from the ground up, this Plumage Archer single malt spirit connects past and present.

The Cask: “Nevermind” Ex English Red Wine, French Oak.

Spirit of Birmingham organic Plumage Archer single malt is already something special - crafted from heritage English barley, floor-malted at Warminster Maltings, and distilled with care. In March 2023, we laid it down to rest in a cask unlike any other.

 

Named after the iconic Nirvana track, Nevermind is a French oak cask that previously held four vintages of award-winning English red wine from a local winery. And yes - as always - the music was playing while we filled it. Whenever we fill & name a cask, the relevant track or album plays in the background, setting the tone and energy for the spirit’s long rest. In this case, Nirvana’s Nevermind echoed through the distillery - a nod to rebellion, artistry, spirit and two 90’s teenagers. 

The geeky stuff:

  • French oak lends soft spice, vanilla, and a refined tannic structure.
  • Plumage Archer gives deep, robust maltiness. Expect biscuit, soft cereal sweetness, and gentle nuttiness.
  • The red wine influence infuses depth - think ripe berries, dried fruit, a touch of jammy richness – or the middle of a Braggs jammy donut (they hit different).
  • The local winery adds a shared sense of place. Grain meets grape, Brum meets bottle.

Maturing since March 2023, this is a spirit shaped by music, craft, and character. When it’s ready, it won’t just be whiskey. It’ll be a moment - bottled.


 
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The Distillery:- 

The Distillery

Spirit of Birmingham is the city’s first grain-to-glass distillery and home to Birmingham’s first ever whiskey.

Founded by a brother and sister team, the distillery is built on a shared love for flavour, craft, and sustainability. Every spirit is made with care - from raw ingredient to final bottle - using English-grown heritage grains.

At Spirit of Birmingham, everything is done on-site: mashing, fermenting, distilling, bottling, labelling and admin. Oh, the admin! No shortcuts. Just honest, beautifully made spirits with a strong sense of place.

 

Where to sign up to buy your first release and be first to know when this cask is bottled

Our inaugural release will launch to our membership – the Original SoBs - at the end of June & then on our website & selected independent retailers a week later. The Nevermind cask bottling is a little way off yet, registers of interest are welcome – follow us on socials!

The Distillery Tour:- 
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If you are a Whisky Pioneer subscriber, we hope you enjoyed this whisky as much as we did.  If you’re not yet a subscriber, and you’d like to explore exceptional whisk(e)y with us, join today to receive a 6cl bottle every month. 

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