Ahead of its opening next year, Ad Gefrin, Anglo-Saxon Museum and Distillery located in Wooler, Northumberland, is today excited to announce the launch of its inaugural whisky. The release of Tácnbora aptly reflects a brand built on ancient hospitality and bringing everyone together; combining Scottish and Irish whiskies made for enjoying with others.
Tácnbora – meaning ‘Standard Bearer’ in Old English – is a fitting name for the spirit that comes before all the others. The Venerable Bede records that King Edwin was always preceded by a standard bearer carrying a standard with a goat’s head effigy, and that goat symbol is now central to Ad Gefrin’s brand marque. The whisky blend will pave the way for the distillery’s Ad Gefrin Gin and Single Malt in years to come. Tácnbora is available to purchase online for £42.50/70cl from https://adgefrin.co.uk/shop
Opening in February 2023, Ad Gefrin will comprise a £14m world-class visitor experience revealing the fascinating history of Northumberland's Anglo-Saxon ‘Golden Age’. The immersive museum will showcase the court of the 7th Century Northumbrian kings and queens that drew people from all over the world to visit their summer palace nearby. One of the most exciting facets of Ad Gefrin is the complete integration of museum experience and whisky distillery - the county’s first (legal) distillery in 200 years.
In discussing the notes of Ad Gefrin’s first whisky, Ben Murphy, Director of Distilling said: “The Tácnbora whisky blend features Scottish and Irish whiskies, reflecting two of the peoples that would have made up the Anglo-Saxons of Northumbria (Scottish, Irish, English, and Scandinavian). Tácnbora is made with a mix of malt and grain and finished in Northumberland in Virgin American oak and oloroso casks, creating a distinctive and palatable spirit. On the nose, it has notes of honey, vanilla, candied citrus peel and spices, backed up on the palate with the flavours of sultanas, cream soda and nutmeg. The finish lingers and coats the mouth with the tastes of honey, vanilla and sweet citrus.”
As for the other nationalities, they will feature in future editions, and all four will make up Ad Gefrin’s exclusive blend for their Corenkyn (meaning ‘Chosen Family’ in Old English) founding members.
The Distillery team brings youth, passion, and energy together under the leadership of rising star Ben Murphy, Director of Distilling. Ben has enjoyed successful stints as Head Distiller at Berentsens Brygghus, Egersund, Norway, and Head Distiller at Poetic License Distillery in Sunderland. He is passionate about traditional methodologies but not afraid to innovate. Joining him is Craig Stock – a Canadian with diverse experience latterly at Durham Distillery; and recent postgraduate from Heriot Watt University’s Institute of Brewing and Distilling, Germano Molinari of Sambucca heritage. Whilst this is an exciting young team, Ad Gefrin enjoys an enviable level of knowledge and wisdom being invested in its whisky with non-executive whisky royalty on board through Alan Rutherford, former President of the Malt Distillers Association of Scotland, and Council Member of the Scotch Whisky Association and recipient of an OBE for his ‘services to whisky’.
