Golden Union Apple Brandy Cask Whisky Review

Introduction I picked up this bottle of Golden Union Apple Brandy Cask out of simple curiosity. It’s a limited bottling from The London Distillery Company, and what caught my attention was the unique cask finish – drawn from American oak that had previously held English apple brandy. I’m always interested to see how unconventional cask finishes work with youthful spirits. I had no expectations going in, which made the experience all the more honest. Nose Right away, the nose delivers a distinct fruitiness that sets this apart from more traditional single malts. I picked up green apple and under-ripe pear, both sharp and fresh. There’s also a touch of vanilla and a bit of raw cereal grain, likely reflecting its young age. The aroma had a slight earthy undertone and a natural, unpolished quality. As it opened up, I noticed a subtle floral note – something like dried chamomile or crushed petals. It wasn’t overly layered, but what was there felt genuine. Palate The texture was surprisingly light, with a gentle arrival that brought those crisp apple notes to the forefront again – more baked apple this time than fresh. There’s a definite sweetness in the first sip, followed by something herbal – maybe fennel or even mild aniseed. I wouldn’t call the whisky complex, but there’s a pleasant interplay between fruit, soft spice, and young malt character. Near the middle there was a brief flash of oak bitterness, not overwhelming but noticeable. The apple brandy cask clearly left its mark without taking over. Finish The finish felt short to medium at best. It faded on sweet fruit skins and light vanilla, with just a whisper of dry heat right at the end. The youth of the spirit shows here – it doesn’t linger for long, but it finishes clean, with no rough edges or artificial sweetness. A bit of maltiness sticks around if you pay attention. Price and Value Given the rarity and the specific cask choice, the price was reasonable for a small-scale English whisky. You're not buying age or prestige here – you're buying a thoughtful experiment from an independent distillery. If you’re into trying something off the mainstream path, it’s worth the price once. That said, I wouldn’t call it an everyday dram – it’s more of a niche pick for whisky fans who enjoy exploring youth-forward malts with cask-driven influences. Background This bottling comes from The London Distillery Company, a modern craft producer that’s no stranger to doing things differently. They’ve dabbled in organic grain, heritage yeast strains, and small-batch fermentations. This particular release came under the Golden Union name, and it’s part of their ongoing work in using alternative cask finishes. The whisky is unchillfiltered, non-coloured, and bottled at 46% ABV – all choices that tend to appeal to purists. The use of an apple brandy cask, sourced from within England, adds to the local character of the spirit. It’s bottled young, though there's no age statement – based on taste, I’d assume it’s under five years old. Final Notes Would I buy this again? Probably not — it was a one-time curiosity, and I’m glad I tried it, but I tend to prefer malts with more developed depth. Is it a good introduction for someone new to whisky? Only if they already enjoy spirited, fruit-forward flavours and don’t mind something off the beaten path. This wouldn’t be my first pick for a beginner. As for occasions, I think this bottle works best as a pre-dinner pour, when your palate is fresh and open to brighter profiles. Compared to other English malts I've sampled, this one leans harder into experimental territory than something like Cotswolds or Bimber. Different focus, different style — and worth knowing about if you’re interested in where English whisky is going next.