Tácnbora – Ad Gefrin’s first Whisky Blend with a story to tell
There is a wonderful new tipple on the market – what is more it comes from Northumberland. Opening to the public in Spring 2023, Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Distillery will not only celebrate the 7th century Golden Age of Northumbria in a state-of-the-art visitor experience, it will also re-awaken a tradition for whisky-making that has lain dormant for 200 years. Ad Gefrin will be England’s northernmost whisky distillery, and certainly the county’s first legal one!!
The same landscape that drew the Anglo-Saxon royalty of ancient Northumbria to hold court and offer hospitality to peoples from around the world at Yeavering, just outside of Wooler, is also the inspiration behind Ad Gefrin’s vision to create the first Northumbrian English Single Malt Whisky.
With some of the world’s best malting barley on their doorstep, renowned maltsters, Simpson Malt just a stone’s throw away at Berwick-upon-Tweed, and cheviot water pumped up via a borehole on site – the provenance of Ad Gefrin’s whisky couldn’t be better. But to be a Single Malt, the whisky must mature for 3 years and a day – far too long to wait for a taste of Northumbrian gold.
So while Ad Gefrin wait for their single malt to mature, they have announced that they have created a whisky blend which will be available for sale online and from selected outlets from 1st November. ‘Tácnbora’ – meaning Standard Bearer in Old English – reflects the fact that King Edwin was always preceded by a standardbearer carrying the effigy of a goat’s head (now central to Ad Gefrin’s brand marque). It is certainly a fitting name for the spirit that comes before all the others.
Tácnbora is made with a mix of malt and grain whiskies from Scotland and Ireland, reflecting two of the peoples that would have made up the Anglo-Saxons of Northumbria (Scottish, Irish, English and Scandinavian). Future editions will reflect different pairings.
Aged in virgin American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, Tácnbora is a distinctive and widely palatable spirit. On the nose, it has notes of honey, vanilla, candied citrus peel and spices, backed up on the palate with the flavours of sultanas, cream soda and nutmeg. The finish lingers and coats the mouth with the tastes of honey, vanilla and sweet citrus. Tácnbora retails at £42.50. www.adgefrin.co.uk
