Review: Filey Bay Is Making the World a Better Place, One Field at a Time

Great whisky comes from… England? That’s the dream David Thompson and Tom Mellor have been bringing to life since 2016. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of Dr Jim Swan, and guided by a vision of sustainable farming, Filey Bay was born. With Filey Bay Nurture, the Yorkshire distillery introduces a “field to bottle” whisky centred on regenerative agriculture.

Compared with its big brother Scotland, England has a very modest whisky-making tradition. In recent years, though, that has slowly begun to change, with distilleries such as White Peak and Filey Bay leading the way. Filey Bay is based in Hunmanby, in the north-east of England, on the North Sea coast. The Meller family has been farming at their Yorkshire farm since 1945.

Through the world of agriculture, Meller met David Thompson, who sold barley and seeds. What began as a business relationship grew into a close friendship—and eventually became the beating heart of Filey Bay. Their plan was to create an authentic whisky with a distinctly Yorkshire character, rooted in good, sustainable farming. They brought in the knowledge and experience of Dr Jim Swan, and the first new make spirit flowed from the stills in 2016.

Filey Bay Nurture comes in a white box with moss-green accents, giving it a clean, understated look. The distillation process is explained on the side of the box, while a quote from Tom Mellor introduces the story of regenerative farming. A nice touch is the QR code beneath Mellor’s quote, which links to a more detailed account of regenerative agriculture at Filey Bay.

Filey Bay’s emblem, the majestic gannet, appears alongside a wavy pattern on the bottle’s glass. The overall look is calm yet elegant. Nurture is the first release in a series of further regenerative editions to come. This inaugural release has been matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-red-wine casks.

On the nose, the whisky opens with the freshness of Granny Smith apples and lemon zest. After the bright fruit comes a generous note of vanilla, followed by creamy sweetness reminiscent of strawberries and cream. As we write this review, the weather is cold and windy, with the occasional shower. Filey Bay Nurture feels a little out of place in autumn; its fresh character makes it more of a whisky for a sunny spring day.

Having weathered our own internal climate crisis and embraced the fresh fruit with an open mind, we move on to the tasting. With the first sip, we quickly leave those springtime vibes behind. This dram is wonderfully creamy, with the influence of the red wine casks coming through more strongly on the palate than on the nose. A blend of light custard, red fruit and a touch of clove warms the mouth.

The fresh aromas initially lead you one way, but the red wine casks bring something interesting to the palate. Filey Bay Nurture is pleasant and approachable. Its creaminess is a real strength, but don’t expect fireworks or angelic choirs when you take a sip. The finish is short but firm, with red apple and spicy oak bringing a touch of bitterness.

Filey Bay Nurture is a whisky with a great story. A strong vision and real craftsmanship underpin it, and the result is a very enjoyable whisky. This dram takes you from a fresh spring day to creamy fruit, finishing on spicy oak. It makes for an intriguing whole.

It’s not an evening’s entertainment packed with fireworks and a full orchestra, but a solid, easy-sipping whisky to enjoy without any fuss. And when you remember that a patch of land on the other side of the North Sea is benefiting from healthy farming practices, it brings a smile to our faces—and we’re happy to pour a glass for the neighbour, too.

+ A sustainable dram

+ Interesting interplay of aromas and flavours

- No bold bursts of flavour

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