A NEW distillery has opened its doors in Brierley Hill, offering tours, tastings, classes and the first whisky to ever be produced in the West Midlands.
West Midlands Distillery has expanded its presence at The Waterfront, opening a dedicated whisky distillery next to its bar, Dr Eamer’s.
Having taken the first guests on the inaugural tours on Friday (March 21), founder and self-proclaimed “whisky nerd”, Jordan Lunn, spoke of his excitement at making the Black Country a force to be reckoned with within the distilling industry.
He said: “It feels amazing to say we have produced the region’s first whisky.
A side-by-side of Mr Lunn’s first production from his back bedroom to the first bottle of the region’s single malt whisky (Image: Olivia Warburton / NQ) “It’s a realisation of the goal – It’s been a lot of hard work, but a fantastic achievement.
“I’ve been distilling since the year 2000 as a teenager. My great uncle was a distiller and taught me how to distil when I was in my teens, and my passion for it just grew from there.
“In my thirties, I went on a distillery tour around the UK and, at that point in time, my back bedroom was my distillery but I got to see how the proper boys were doing it.”
West Midlands Distillery has grown from a passion project operating out of Mr Lunn’s back bedroom in Rowley Regis to a dedicated team of 16 who are producing an array of spirits.
The brand will continue to produce its gin, rum and vodka at its site in Rowley Regis, giving whisky production its own dedicated home at The Waterfront.
The distillery’s new Waterfront headquarters will offer visitors a behind-the-scenes experience into the world of whisky-making, including immersive group tours, tastings, and a one-of-a-kind distilling school where guests can craft and age their own whisky – what Mr Lunn called the “jewel in the crown” of the site.
The state-of-the-art copper distillers are now ready, waiting to grace the eyes of whisky enthusiasts (Image: Olivia Warburton / NQ) Every minute detail of the new distillery and its products has been designed to celebrate the Black Country, from the silhouette of Dudley Castle being embossed onto bottles to prints of local phrases and quirks adorning the walls.
Mr Lunn believes as a region, the Black Country does not “shout about itself” as much as it could, and it is hopeful that West Midlands Distillery’s Waterfront expansion will help draw more visitors to the area.
He has partnered with the neighbouring Copthorne Hotel, offering whisky experience stays.
Mr Lunn said: “Whisky nerds, like myself, will travel for experiences like what we are offering here.
“That’s all I am at the end of the day – a big geek that likes playing with a big chemistry set that produced alcohol.”
