The Spirit of Yorkshire

Dolphins spotted off the North Yorkshire Coast 07/08/2020

Living: Yorkshire Coast Dolphins

We’re spoilt with wildlife in this part of the world – buzzards, owls, hares, deer, puffins, gannets and seals. But dolphins are a bit more unusual. A couple of the team were out for a sail one evening this week up near Sandsend when they were joined by this playful pod. And actually, dolphins are becoming a more regular occurrence along this coastline. According to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, they particularly like Flamborough Head (which marks the southern point of Filey Bay) because cold water from the north meets warmer water... Read More

Together in Spirit: the Wold Top and Spirit of Yorkshire Playlist. 17/04/2020

Enjoying: ‘Together in Spirit’ – our Spotify playlist

We’re big fans of music here at Spirit of Yorkshire, as well as at our sister brewery The Wold Top Brewery. So in lieu of the regular live music at the distillery and brewery (and to give us a really nice way of feeling connected, even though we’re all apart), we’ve compiled a joint playlist of the team’s favourite songs for enjoying a glass (or more…) of something delicious to. Each team member from both Wold Top and SOY has been asked to submit a few songs that they love... Read More

David on WhiskyCast Live Stream 08.04.2020 15/04/2020

Living: David on WhiskyCast

Last week David, one of our two co-founders, was part of a live stream panel hosted by Mark Gillespie of the critically acclaimed whisky podcast WhiskyCast. Along with a number of leaders in the world of whisky (from ex- Gordon & MacPhail MD Michael Urquhart to Allison Parc of Brenne Whisky), they discussed everything from our latest release Filey Bay Moscatel Finish, to the long term impact that the CoronaVirus will have on the industry… as well as sharing which drams they were enjoying as they spoke! Listen to the... Read More

DP002 and Hot Cross Buns 14/04/2020

Enjoying: Locally-sourced Hot Cross Buns with DP002

A different kind of Easter this year. We toasted the weekend with a glass of our Maturing Malt Distillery Projects 002, which we released in Spring 2018 and which has notes of honeycomb and hot cross buns. Needless to say, that called for a baked accompaniment and despite the shortages of flour and yeast, our local suppliers had the right things in stock! We used both a recipe and flour from Side Oven, a farm-based bakery from nearby Driffield. Our eggs came from Trotters Farm Shop on the edge of... Read More

Conventional Drilling at the Spirit of Yorkshire Farm, March 2020 13/04/2020

Growing: Planting our Barley

In the last fortnight we’ve planted all our barley for this summer’s crop (and next year’s whisky). As discussed in our previous post, 130 acres of this have been direct drilled straight into the cover crop that was drilled into the stubble after last year’s harvest. Around 75 acres has been planted conventionally. Here’s a video of Tom talking about direct drilling in more detail (click here to view).

Cover crops on trial acres at the Spirit of Yorkshire Farm 28/02/2020

Growing: Direct Drilling

Field to bottle isn’t just a phrase we use. As one of the few distilleries around the world who farm all the barley they use in their whisky, we not only get to choose which varieties we grow, we also determine how we grow it. This is really important to us and something that our co-founders know and care a lot about. Tom has lived on the farm for his whole life and has been farming (or working on the farm) since he was young. David’s area of expertise is... Read More

Wind Turbines at the Spirit of Yorkshire Farm 25/02/2020

Growing: Wind Power

Co-founder Tom has long been an advocate of wind power – he first put in an application for a wind turbine in the early 90s but the farm’s proximity to an RAF base meant that it wasn’t feasible to have one then.  Tom kept researching the prospect though and in the late 2000s, T1 and T2 were installed. Between them, they generate 400,000 kw electricity a year and whenever the wind is blowing, they are in motion. When they’re moving, they provide all of the power needed for the farm, brewery... Read More

Filey Bay Second Release 24/02/2020

Living: ‘The Country Gent’ Podcast

Last week, Joe joined Nick and Rob from ‘The Country Gent’ podcast for a chat and tasting of Filey Bay Second Release, at the Rose and Crown on Lawrence Street in York.  It’s a detailed session, really drilling down into the specifics of our whisky and our production process, as well as the reasons for starting the distillery, how we work alongside the Wold Top Brewery, and the ethos behind the business. So pour yourself a dram of Filey Bay, then settle down inside and listen here, from around 35... Read More

Chrissie takes a tour around the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery 30/01/2020

Enjoying: Taking the Train Part 3

The train timetables have been updated for 2020 so here are the revised ‘best trains’ to take from Scarborough and Bridlington if you’re visiting us for a tour. From Hunmanby station, go left as you leave the platform (on either side) and walk up the hill. The distillery is on your left after about 5 minutes walk.  Don’t forget – if you show a valid ticket when you come for your distillery tour, we’ll give you a free hot or cold drink and a biscuit. Or if there are four... Read More

Full house for Burns Night 2020 at the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery 30/01/2020

Enjoying: Burns Night 2020

Last week we sold out the coffee shop for an evening celebrating the poetic works (and love of whisky) of Robert Burns, arguably Scotland’s most famous poet.  Libby, Joe, Claire and the team put on a brilliant show of cask samples, poetry and giant Yorkshire puddings (which Claire had been making them for weeks in advance!) alongside the expected haggis, neeps and tatties.  Next up we have Valentine’s Day with a difference – an evening pairing whisky and chocolate (from Bullion in Sheffield). We can’t wait!