Wire Works Necessary Evil Finish 2025 is a bold single malt expression at 51.3% ABV, matured first in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing for eight months in Thornbridge’s Necessary Evil stout casks. With just 2,457 individually numbered bottles released on 25 July 2025, this whisky captures local provenance, heritage and friendship in each dram.
What makes this release exceptional is its unique cask journey: each of twelve ex-bourbon barrels was singly siphoned into recharred red wine casks that had held Thornbridge’s award-winning imperial stout. The deliberate headspace encourages oxidation, while residual beer sediment imparts nutty complexity through yeast autolysis. The result is a multi-layered whisky with depth, innovation and a true sense of place.
Wire Works begins with a lightly peated malt spirit fermented using spent brewer’s yeast from Thornbridge Brewery. After double distillation, the new make matures for 18 months in ex-bourbon barrels. For finishing, each barrel is transferred individually into STR (shaved, toasted, recharred) casks previously used for Necessary Evil stout, then left for around eight months to encourage oxidation and flavour integration. Post-maturation, the whisky undergoes meticulous settling and multi-stage filtration before bottling.
This robust whisky pairs beautifully with smoky charcuterie and aged cheddar, or a dark chocolate and hazelnut tart. For vegetarians, try roasted marinated mushrooms with truffle oil or a nut-crumbed goat’s cheese salad to complement its nutty, coffee-tinged profile.
On the nose, indulge in vanilla fudge, toasted hazelnuts and freshly roasted coffee. The palate unfolds with dark chocolate, dates, salted caramel and a whisper of smoke, while the finish lingers on rich tobacco, dark cherries and a final accent of roasted malt.
Derbyshire, England
51.3% ABV