Bimber Spirit of the Underground Review: Wembley Park & Leicester Square
Bimber Spirit of the Underground Review: Wembley Park & Leicester Square
Time for a few drams!
Bimber Distillery’s The Spirit of the Underground collection has produced some brilliant single-cask releases in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL). Each bottle celebrates a specific Tube station paired with bold cask types and natural cask-strength bottlings.
I recently tried two completely different expressions from the series: Wembley Park (Release No. 6) and Leicester Square (Release No. 4).
Here is my honest breakdown of both drams, their cask specs, and my personal tasting notes without the marketing fluff.
Wembley Park (Release No. 6) – Marsala Cask Finish
Celebrating the iconic north-west London station served by the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines, this single malt was additionally matured in a rich Marsala cask. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 58.3% ABV from Cask Ref. 300/10, it leans heavily into bright fruits layered over fortified wine depth.
Cask Specifications
Distillery: Bimber Distillery (London Single Malt)
Series: The Spirit of the Underground (Release No. 6)
Cask Ref: 300/10
Cask Type: Finished in Marsala Cask
ABV: 58.3% (Cask Strength)
Tube Lines: Jubilee, Metropolitan
Tasting Notes
Nose: Punchy and vibrant right out of the glass. Lots of fresh orange zest and clementines backed up by runny honey, sweet almond paste, and dry toasted oak.
Palate: Very citrus-forward. Juicy orange peel and sharp lemon mix with a warming kick of fresh ginger, grated nutmeg, and dark chocolate nuttiness
Finish: Good length, holding onto that dry oak char and lingering orange oils while baking spice fades out.
The Verdict
Bright, lively, and unapologetically citrusy. The Marsala cask brings just enough fruit sweetness to soften the 58.3% heat, while the oak and ginger spice keep the palate dry, crisp, and fresh.
Leicester Square (Release No. 4) – Virgin Oak Cask
Leicester Square station originally opened in 1906 (initially proposed as Cranbourn Street) serving the Piccadilly and Northern lines. Today, the station sits right in the heart of London’s bustling West End theatre and cinema district.
Drawn from Cask Ref. 331, this release is fully matured in virgin American oak. It is one of the smaller yields in the collection, with just 271 bottles produced, delivered at an intense 60.3% ABV.
Cask Specifications
Distillery: Bimber Distillery (London Single Malt)
Series: The Spirit of the Underground (Release No. 4)
Cask Ref: 331
Cask Type: Virgin Oak Cask
Outturn: 271 bottles
ABV: 60.3% (Cask Strength)
Tube Lines: Northern, Piccadilly
Tasting Notes
Nose: Rich, dessert-like, and heavily influenced by the fresh wood. Sweet toffee, dried coconut flakes, and canned pineapple slices, layered over dark brown sugar and shaved timber.
Palate: Bold, heavy, and palate-coating. A burst of ripe stone fruit and charred pineapple hits first, followed by toasted wood, dark caramel, and a warming peppery prickle.
Finish: Long, hot, and spicy. Ground black pepper and warm ginger stick around alongside sweet vanilla and some lingering dried fruit.
The Verdict
Rich, layered and packed with flavour. At over 60% ABV, the virgin oak gives it tons of depth—delivering heaps of toasted coconut, ripe pineapple, dark toffee, and a punchy kick of cracked black pepper right at the end.
Have you tried any bottles from Bimber's Spirit of the Underground collection, or do you have a favourite Tube station release? Let me know in the comments below!
I hope life is treating you well.
Take care
