Back in 2021, Bimber started its then-new collection, The Spirit of the Underground, celebrating many stations from the London Underground passenger railway system, the Tube. We could review the first batch of four stations in June 2021, thanks to a Tweet Tasting with Steve Rush and Matt McKay. Fast forward three years and they’ve already released their 6th batch of four expressions, that we’re trying today. The ballot for those bottles is long closed and these are all sold out, but you might be tempted to get one on the secondary market as I’m sure several of them will pop in one of the several whisky auctions you already probably know of. So maybe this review will help you choose which one to go to with my tasting notes. But remember this is my humble opinion so your taste might be different, your nose and palate may get different notes that what I recognised. So to help, I’ll also link at the end of the review a link to friends’ blogs, who also reviewed these four whiskies. But without further ado, let’s review those four Bimber The Spirit of the Underground, from their sixth release.
The Spirit of the Underground Series
As mentioned, this is already the sixth release in Bimber’s The Spirit of the Underground series, bringing the total to 24 expressions so far. Given that the London Tube has 272 stations (spanning 402 kilometres over 11 lines), it’s clear that Bimber won’t be creating expressions for each one, especially since many are only familiar to London residents. Instead, they’ve chosen to focus on 44 stations, so we can look forward to five more releases, each featuring four expressions, in the coming months and years.
Bimber The Spirit of the Underground – Oval (2024) Review
The Bimber Oval was first matured for three years in American oak, followed by an additional three years in a Moscatel Sherry Cask (Ref 282/22). This cask yielded 307 bottles, each at 57.6% ABV, without chill filtration or added colouring. Whilst it’s sold out, you might find it on the secondary market, likely at steep prices. Originally, it was priced at £135 per bottle.
Colour:
Tawny
Nose:
Neat: The nose is quite intense, beginning with dates and figs, followed by unlit cigar tobacco leaves. There are also hints of raspberry, strawberry, and red cherries. The alcohol is noticeable but not harsh, with light yeasty notes and a touch of cinnamon.
With water: As I move the glass around (not all compounds weigh the same so you might detect different aromas depending on how high you keep your glass against your nose), I detect icing sugar and orange nectar juice, along with blond tobacco.
Palate:
Neat: The palate opens with a spicy and slightly woody character, accompanied by a thick, oily mouthfeel. Initially, you’re greeted with a pleasant burst of spices (pepper, chili, ginger) balanced by medium woody bitterness and tannins. On the second sip, the wood bitterness intensifies, bringing in notes of very dark chocolate, grapefruit juice, and zest, with the spices becoming slightly overpowering. There might even be a hint of flint.
With water: The profile shifts towards citrus fruits, featuring blood orange, grapefruit, and lime. The wood notes become more resinous, reminiscent of pine needles.
Finish:
The finish is long, featuring notes of cigars and dark chocolate, accompanied by pepper and candied ginger. There are also hints of ash and a subtle mineral quality.
Comments:
This is a very good whisky, showcasing a dark fruity nose and a woody, spicy palate. If the spices were slightly more restrained, it could have achieved a higher rating, but it remains an excellent whisky nonetheless. Bimber’s distinctive character is still evident. Adding a few drops of water helps balance the spices, introducing new flavours and aromas. Without water, it would score a seven, but with a bit of reduction, it can earn an extra half point.
Rating: 7.5/10
Bimber The Spirit of the Underground – Stratford (2024) Review
Next up is Bimber Stratford, which, like all the expressions in batch 6, underwent a second maturation for three years. This time, it was in a Fino sherry cask (Ref 267/16). The cask produced 325 bottles, each filled at 58.5% ABV, without chill filtration or added colouring. Similar to Oval and the other two expressions, it was initially priced at £135 and is now sold out.
Colour:
Tawny.
Nose:
Neat: The alcohol presence is more pronounced compared to the Oval, despite only a 0.9% higher ABV. The nose reveals herbaceous notes of freshly mown grass, wet fern, and moss. There’s a light almond nuttiness, both salted and unsalted, along with dark fruits like black cherry, blueberry, and blackcurrant. Blond tobacco also makes an appearance, followed by hints of hazelnut and pecan.
With water: Reduction introduces old leather jacket, coconut shavings, and distant hints of pineapple.
Palate:
Neat: As expected with Bimber, the mouthfeel is thick. The spicy woodiness is present, but now complemented by red and dark fruits like raspberries, blueberries, and both black and red cherries. There are also hints of red wine, but it’s well balanced, avoiding the pitfalls of an un-mastered red wine cask finish. Additional notes include sponge cake, concentrated caramel, and milk chocolate, with a very light tannic dryness on the tongue.
With water: The profile shifts to menthol cigarettes, orange juice, apricots with nutmeg, and some dried herbs.
Finish:
Well, almost everything from the palate lingers without changing much, and stays for a long moment.
Comments:
Stratford seems a bit more balanced than the Bimber Oval, particularly with the spices. As expected, it offers a thick mouthfeel, rich spices, and plenty of character, resulting in an excellent whisky.
Rating: 7.5/10
Bimber The Spirit of the Underground – Wembley Park (2024) Review
Our third Bimber today is Wembley Park, named after a station just a 12-minute walk from the iconic Wembley Stadium. This whisky underwent a second maturation in a Marsala cask (ref. 300/10), yielding 305 bottles at cask strength (58.3%), without chill filtration or colouring. Priced at £135, it is sold out like the others.
Colour:
Tawny.
Nose:
Neat: Initial vinous notes with a noticeable ABV that isn’t too aggressive. Hints of a wine cellar, almond milk, and sultanas. It’s rich, though the aromas are harder to distinguish compared to the first two.
With water: Enhanced vinous notes, a subtle hint of sour beer, and some milk chocolate.
Palate:
Neat: Vinous, chocolaty, and spicy on the arrival. It has the thick mouthfeel typical of Bimber. Notes of brown sugar, tobacco (a mix of cigars and blond tobacco), leather, and abundant dark chocolate (60%), followed by a resinous hint. The spices are strong but balanced, with chili providing a pleasant heat without burning. Slightly drying on the gums.
With water: Wood notes emerge, along with dates, salted almonds, and darker chocolate – almost like raw cocoa powder.
Finish:
The wine and chocolate notes linger pleasantly, while the spices quickly fade. Hints of strawberry and raspberry draped in melted chocolate, with a touch of champagne. (Any newlyweds to congratulate?)
Comments:
While still good, I find Wembley Park slightly inferior to Oval and Stratford. The vinous notes are a bit too prominent for my taste, and I found this cask slightly less complex than the first two. However, if you enjoy vinous notes, you won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 6.5/10
Bimber The Spirit of the Underground – Wimbledon (2024) Review
Last but not least, we have another world-famous name: Wimbledon. Obviously, it wasn’t matured in small yellow balls (imagine what that would taste like…), but its second maturation was in a Vino de Naranja cask (remember the Bimber Klub Release No. 2? I still need to review those four Klub expressions, by the way). This is the smallest outturn of the four, with just 298 bottles filled at 56.6%. As usual, it’s non-chill filtered and without colouring, priced at £135, and sold out quickly.
Colour:
Tawny, again.
Nose:
Neat: Unusual and intriguing. Smoked oranges, blood orange juice, suede-like leather, white and milk chocolate, nutmeg, and almonds. Nice and interesting.
With water: Figs, apricot, peach-flavoured yogurt, and still that hint of smoke (despite being unpeated).
Palate:
Neat: Abundant milk chocolate followed by a burst of spices (cinnamon, ginger, and hints of nutmeg), diluted orange juice, a pinch of pepper, and a few drops of lemon juice. It has a creamy, coating mouthfeel with a slight dryness. Notes of icing sugar, fudge, and subtle hints of smoked salmon and salinity.
With water: Less sweet, with more pronounced citrus notes, proper blood orange juice, cracked peppercorns, allspice, more chocolate, and orangettes. Lovely.
How does that sound?
Finish:
Notes of butterscotch, fudge, and milk chocolate mingle with a hint of salinity, creating a long finish.
Comments:
I have the Vino de Naranja cask Bimber Club release at home and plan to properly review and compare it to this Bimber Wimbledon. On its own, I really enjoy this Bimber. The Vino de Naranja cask introduces an unusual profile to Bimber. Although it may not be the most complex of the four, in my humble opinion, it is the most interesting due to its unique characteristics.
Rating: 8/10
Bottle pictures: random sources. Lead image & stations map: Bimber. Samples provided by Bimber for review, but as usual that doesn’t change what we think and what we write. Even though I don’t hide that I’m a Bimber fan.
But Don’t Trust Our Word For It…
The chaps ‘WhiskyWings’ Mike & ‘WhiskyTip’ Duncan, from the excellent podcast Honest to a Malt (highly recommended!) reviewed these four Bimber (as well as six Shoulders of Giants we’ll also review soon), and my friend Brian ‘Malt Musings’ did too on his blog.
