Filey Bay x TRC Barrel Aged Malawi

When Claire from the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery in Filey approached us to collaborate on a barrel-aged coffee project for the second time, we were thrilled. We believe that Yorkshire whisky and Yorkshire roasted coffee are a perfect match.

We met with Joe, the Director of Whisky at the distillery, and selected an ex-bourbon cask labelled '1929.' This barrel was previously used to produce 'Flagship,' their outstanding single malt whisky, which boasts tasting notes of caramel, citrus, honey, and vanilla.

After discussing our options, we decided that a coffee with a similar flavour profile to Flagship whisky would enhance and complement those citrusy, sweet notes.

We tasted a variety of East African coffees from our friends at Omwani Coffee Co in York and discovered a coffee that we felt was ideal: a fully washed coffee grown in the northern hills of Malawi, produced by the Phoka Coffee Cooperative. This coffee is vibrantly sweet, offering flavours of caramel, golden sultana, and a delightful green fruit note reminiscent of green apple and pear.

We placed the unroasted coffee into the barrel and rolled it daily to ensure an even infusion of whisky flavour. After twenty days, we opened the barrel, removed the coffee, and prepped it for roasting.

A medium roast profile yielded the best results, balancing the green apple acidity with a delightful caramel sweetness. We also pick up hints of golden sultana and sweet pear drop notes, all wrapped in a prominent whisky aroma and finish - truly a triumph, or rather, a Yorkshire triumph.

We are incredibly proud to be involved in projects like this, and the outcome is nothing short of delicious!

Who knows what’s next for Three Ridings Coffee, Omwani Coffee Co, and the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery?

How about a Ugandan coffee with notes of red berries aged in an STR cask? That would point toward a delightful combination of red fruit, coffee, and whisky. "Joe, please can we get another cask?"

Big thanks to all involved:

- The coffee producers: Phoka Coffee Cooperative (Malawi)

- The coffee sourcing partners: Omwani Coffee Co (York)

- Providers of the whisky barrel: Spirit of Yorkshire (Filey)

- The coffee roasters: Three Ridings Coffee (Bridlington