Bimber Distillery Guide - London Single Malt, Tasting Notes & Tour Review
- lifeofandra
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
When most people think of London spirits, gin usually takes the spotlight. But tucked away in an industrial estate in West London is Bimber—a craft distillery that has quietly become one of the most respected names in modern London/English single malt.
Founded in 2015, Bimber (meaning "moonshine" in Polish) released its first single malt in 2019, and its small-batch releases have earned a cult following that regularly sells out in minutes.
This guide breaks down what makes Bimber's traditional distilling methods so rare, what their spirit actually tastes like, and what to expect from their in-depth Whisky Connoisseur Experience in Acton.
What Makes Bimber's Production Process Rare?
Single-Farm Floor-Malted Barley: Bimber is one of the very few modern distilleries to use 100% British barley sourced from a single farm (in Basingstoke) that is traditionally floor-malted.
Distillery-Built Wooden Washbacks: Fermentation runs exceptionally long (7 days) inside bespoke oak washbacks handcrafted on-site, building massive ester and fruit profiles.
Direct-Fired Copper Pot Stills: While most modern setups use internal steam coils, Bimber heats its two compact copper pot stills with direct open flame. This creates high-temperature caramelisation of the wash, giving the new-make spirit a distinctly rich, oily mouthfeel.
Core Bimber & House Style
The House Style: There is no core range per se, as the vast majority of releases are single cask, with the occasional vatting now and again, but overall - unpeated, exceptionally full-bodied, oily, and layered with orchard fruits, stone fruits (apricot, peach), citrus oils, and rich spice.
Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks: The truest expression of Bimber's fruit-forward DNA. Creamy vanilla, bright citrus, roasted nuts, and subtle cracked pepper.
Re-charred Oak Casks: Matured in hand-charred virgin American oak casks. Sweeter, deeper notes of dark honeycomb, toasted wood, rich caramel, and clove.
Special Finishes or Full Maturations, including Sherry, Virgin Oak, Tequila, and Peated Cask, bottled at cask strength without chill filtration or added colour.
Key Bimber Limited Editions & Special Series
The Spirit of the Underground Series
Produced in official collaboration with Transport for London (TfL), each release is dedicated to a specific station (such as Marble Arch, Waterloo, Camden Town, or Piccadilly Circus) and drawn from an individual single cask
The Country Exclusive Collections
Bimber’s Country Collections were created as bespoke single-cask releases dedicated exclusively to individual international markets (Germany, Poland, Singapore & Beyond).
Spirit of the Game Series (USA, Canada, Mexico)
A themed collection of single casks highlighting regional cask finishes—such as re-charred American oak for Canada, 1st-fill bourbon for the USA, and unique agave-influenced Tequila cask finish for Mexico.
Visiting Bimber Distillery: The Whisky Connoisseur Experience
The Setting: Located at 56 Sunbeam Road in North Acton (London NW10), Bimber is an authentic, working craft distillery rather than a polished corporate visitor centre.
Getting There: A straightforward 10-minute walk from North Acton Underground Station (Central Line) or roughly 18 minutes from Acton Main Line (Elizabeth Line).
The Tour & Tasting: The 2-hour Whisky Connoisseur Experience (£40/ticket, booked online in advance) walks you step-by-step through their floor malting, fermentation, cooperage, and direct-fire stills.
The Tasting: You sample multiple drams, starting with their raw new-make spirit before diving into a generous flight of their single malts.
Bimber proves you don't need a centuries-old Highland estate to craft world-class single malt. By sticking to old-school, labour-intensive techniques—floor malting, long fermentations, and direct-fire copper stills—they've made London a major destination for serious whisky enthusiasts.
Have you tried a Bimber release or visited their Acton distillery? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
