Bimber recently introduced* a new series, ‘Shoulder of Giants’, a tribute to the thinkers, innovators, and visionaries who have shaped history. While the connection to whisky may not be immediately obvious, perhaps these celebrated figures were whisky enthusiasts – though, in the case of Nicolaus Copernicus, who passed away in 1543 in Poland, it’s unlikely he ever had the chance to enjoy a dram! Regardless, this theme is as fitting as many others embraced by distilleries, and the labels are nothing short of stunning. Thanks to Bimber Distillery, we didn’t just have the last Spirit of the Underground batch, we also have all six expressions from the ‘Shoulder of Giants’ series in front of us – three exclusive to the UK and three to Poland. Let’s dive in and explore what each of these whiskies has to offer.
Bimber Shoulders of Giants: Dickens – The Novelist Review
Let’s begin with the first of the UK exclusives: ‘Dickens – The Novelist.’ Charles Dickens, born in 1812 and passing away in 1870, was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer, and social critic. He is celebrated for crafting some of literature’s most iconic characters and is widely regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.
Now, onto the whisky: the Bimber Dickens expression is an American oak ex-bourbon single cask, number #398. This cask yielded just 259 bottles, each filled at a robust cask strength of 58.3% ABV. Like all six expressions in this series, it is bottled without added colouring or chill filtration, preserving its natural character. Released at a recommended price of £94, this expression is obviously sold out.
Colour:
Amber
Nose:
Neat: The nose is bold and vibrant, bursting with tropical fruit notes – pineapple and mango take the lead, accompanied by a hint of artificial banana reminiscent of Arlequin candy. There are also hints of Jamaican rum esters, candied ginger slices, a subtle touch of wasabi, and traces of vanilla.
With water: Even after adding several drops of water, the alcohol remains potent. The wood notes become more pronounced, with a faint hint of solvent emerging in the background.
Palate:
Neat: A powerful entry with that signature chewy, thick mouthfeel. Unexpected notes of salted liquorice, rich dark chocolate, wood tannins, and bold espresso dominate the palate. Soon after, a wave of tropical fruits – passion fruit, pineapple, guava – brings a vibrant contrast, along with a touch of underlying funk.
With water: The profile shifts to reveal more ginger and an intensified peppery kick. The chocolate remains prominent, though the tropical fruit notes take a step back.
Finish:
The finish is long and lingering, featuring notes of dark chocolate with a hint of salt, underripe passion fruit, a touch of wood, zesty lemon juice, and the crema of a ristretto.
Comments:
An excellent Bimber expression, offering a delightful mix of tropical fruits and unexpected salty notes on the palate. I prefer it neat, as adding water tends to amplify the wood and heat, overshadowing the fruity and toasty aromas.
Rating: 7.5/10
Bimber Shoulders of Giants: Shakespeare – The Playwright Review
Born in 1564 and dead in 1616 on his birthday, William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely celebrated as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s foremost dramatist. The Bimber Shakespeare, however, is slightly younger! It was matured in an American oak ex-bourbon cask and finished in an ex-beer cask, before being bottled at cask strength (57.7% ABV) in April 2024. A total of 271 bottles were drawn from cask 517/30, which, like the other releases, quickly sold out.
Colour:
Amber.
Nose:
Neat: Fruity and vibrant, featuring tropical notes of pineapple, passion fruit, and apricot, complemented by hints of hops, citrusy IPA beer, and cured ham. There’s just a subtle touch of wood in the background.
With water: The profile doesn’t shift much, but the nose becomes more defined, with sharper aromas of pencil shavings and faint resinous notes.
Palate:
Neat: Sirupy mouthfeel, slightly drying. Citrus and tropical fruits once again, I want that as an IPA beer as well for when it’s hot outside! Dark chocolate, some stout notes as well, then ginger and pepper, chalk, and a light saltiness in the end.
With water: Sweeter now, slightly less citrusy notes and some maltiness appearing, with husk and grist.
Finish:
Slightly drying on the gums, with the fruit flavours lingering, though they taper off after a medium length.
Comments:
A lovely fruity dram with vibrant tropical notes and a pleasant beer finish that brings out hints of IPA and hops. I enjoyed the light drying mouthfeel, although it felt slightly thinner compared to the Dickens and Newton expressions.
Rating: 7.5/10
Bimber Shoulders of Giants: Newton – The Mathematician Review
Sir Isaac Newton FRS (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1726/1727) was an English polymath who made significant contributions as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author. Known in his era as a natural philosopher, Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, which shaped the foundation of scientific understanding for centuries, until they were later refined by the theory of relativity.
The Bimber Newton is a peated single malt and single cask, matured in an ex-bourbon cask, bottled in April 2024, like all the UK-exclusive releases from this series. Cask number 467 yielded 256 bottles at 58.3% ABV, which quickly sold out once again.
Colour:
Deep gold.
Nose:
Neat: Bold and intense, featuring lightly peated malt, tropical fruits, a hint of funk, stout beer notes, subtle chocolate aromas, and a touch of peach-flavoured yogurt.
With water: Even after adding a few drops of water, the intensity remains undiminished. In fact, it sharpens slightly, bringing out hints of lemon juice.
Palate:
Neat: Initially sweeter than the Dickens, but with a stronger kick from the alcohol. Notes of peat, pepper, ginger, and chili emerge, alongside hints of wood and fruit – melon, peach, underripe banana, and a touch of passion fruit. Raw oak, wood smoke, and that intriguing salty liquorice note makes an appearance as well.
With water: A hint of a dentist’s moulding paste, lemon juice, and a touch of chocolate come to the forefront.
Finish:
The salty liquorice and wood notes persist, accompanied by milk chocolate, a hint of triple beer, and a touch of white pepper. The finish is long.
Comments:
Like with the Dickens, the salty note on the palate is unexpected, especially for a non-coastal whisky, but the light peat is well integrated and remains subtle. Another solid 7.5.
Rating: 7.5/10
Bimber Shoulders of Giants: Copernicus – The Polymath Review
Nicolaus Copernicus, born in 1473 and passing away in 1543, was a Renaissance polymath known for his work as a mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon. He revolutionised our understanding of the cosmos by formulating a model of the universe that positioned the Sun, rather than the Earth, at its centre.
The Bimber Copernicus is a poly single math malt (sorry) and single cask bottled in November 2023 and was a Poland exclusive, as with the following two expressions. This single cask, numbered #241, previously contained Pedro Ximenez, and gave 300 bottles filled at 56.8% ABV.
Colour:
Russet.
Nose:
Neat: The nose is characteristically intense, featuring dried fruits and wood, with a slight sharpness that remains approachable. Notes of dark caramel, freshly tanned leather, dark berries, candied dates, and fig jam emerge, accompanied by a hint of distant minerality. There are also subtle traces of citrus – orange cordial mingled with spices. After a few sips, the sharpness and alcohol warmth become more pronounced and might catch you off guard.
With water: The sharpness persists, with added notes of melon, a dusty dunnage warehouse, old books, and tobacco.
Palate:
Neat: The mouthfeel is thick and syrupy, yet chalky at the same time. Rich notes of cocoa powder, leather, and a pleasant pepperiness come through, with subtle wood tannins and a hint of saltiness. There’s also a touch of craft lemonade and a delightful buttery tartness.
With water: The profile becomes sweeter, with more pronounced citrus notes, intensified spices, and a stronger peppery kick.
Finish:
Milk chocolate, still with the chalkiness mouthfeel lingering on your tongue (remember chocolate cigarettes?) Hints of plum and fig jam, grapefruit, with a medium length.
Comments:
Lovely and lush Bimber, the PX cask provided a reasonable influence with not too much sweetness, but unfortunately the sharpness on the nose prevent it to get a higher rating.
Rating: 7/10
Bimber Shoulders of Giants: Curie – The Scientist Review
Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie (1867–1934), better known as Marie Curie, was a Polish-born, naturalised French physicist and chemist who made groundbreaking contributions to the study of radioactivity. Among her many achievements, she discovered the elements radium and polonium (named in honour of her homeland) and was awarded two Nobel Prizes.
The Bimber Curie expression was finished in oloroso sherry cask #250/15, yielding 300 bottles at 57% ABV. This release was exclusive to Poland and has since sold out on Bimber’s website, so you’ll need to turn to the secondary market to find a bottle.
Colour:
Russet
Nose:
Neat: Intense, once again. Typical oloroso imparted aromas with dark berries, figs, plum, a lovely and fresh pepperiness as well as menthol, strawberry jam, oranges, chocolate.
With water: Once again adding a few drops of water makes the nose to be a bit sharper than before reduction, but except from that it doesn’t change much.
Palate:
Neat: Once again a chewy mouthfeel. The arrival is quite hot, lots of pepper and spices, as well as those dark fruits from the nose. The spiciness moves from pepper to tabasco, but there’s also dark chocolate, a bit of wood but not too much, oranges. Upon a few more sips you can find some saltiness as well, stronger and stronger.
With water: Slightly more wood and chili, tobacco, and some chalkiness.
Finish:
The spiciness lingers for a long time with a soft bitterness. Chalky plums and underripe apricots, salted chocolate.
Comments:
Nice ‘classic’ Bimber with a ‘classic’ oloroso finish influence. Not surprising but still very good, so it deserves a 7. Better when tasted neat.
Rating: 7/10
Bimber Shoulders of Giants: Chopin – The Composer Review
Frédéric Chopin was a composer and pianist of Franco-Polish heritage, born on March 1, 1810, in Żelazowa Wola and passing away on October 17, 1849, in Paris. Renowned for his extraordinary talent and deep emotional expression, Chopin is celebrated as one of the greatest composers and pianists of the Romantic era. His works, particularly for solo piano, continue to be revered for their poetic beauty and technical brilliance.
The Bimber Chopin, another Poland-exclusive release, was bottled in 2023 following a finish in a fino sherry cask. Cask number 513/28 yielded 328 bottles, all filled at cask strength (52% ABV). Like the other expressions in the series, it has unfortunately sold out.
Colour:
Burnished.
Nose:
Neat: The nose is sharp with a noticeable alcohol heat despite the moderate 52% ABV. Aromas of almonds, roasted apricots, subtle lactic notes, an old dusty cellar, pine resin, and beeswax come through, though the alcohol presence is a bit overpowering.
With water: The sharpness becomes dustier, if that makes sense, with hints of peppermint emerging.
Palate:
Neat: The initial taste is noticeably salty, with a thinner but oilier mouthfeel compared to the others. Flavours of salted almonds, dark chocolate with dried raspberry pieces, black pepper, clove, and nutmeg stand out.
With water: Notes of triple sec emerge, though less sweet, accompanied by more pepper flavour – without the accompanying heat.
Finish:
Wood and dark chocolate linger, complemented by the spices from the palate, leaving a warm sensation in the mouth.
Comments:
A really different profile for this Bimber Chopin, that lacks fruitiness on the palate in my humble opinion. Whilst the nose was really interesting, I found the palate to be a bit underwhelming compared to the nose and the other expressions.
Rating: 6/10
Final Comments
The Bimber ‘Shoulders of Giants’ series stands as a remarkable showcase of craftsmanship, with Matt McKay and his colleagues demonstrating their mastery in experimenting with finishes. Once again, they prove their ability to build on a solid foundation, skilfully adapting to different creative directions. As expected, their bottles sold out rapidly, now commanding steep prices on the secondary market. If you missed out on the initial release, acquiring one will set you back considerably. And let’s not forget – the labels are absolutely stunning.
Samples provided by Bimber. As usual, that doesn’t change the fact that we will write what we genuinely think of the whiskies reviewed.
*: Well, not that recently since I’m very late for that review…
But Don’t Take Our Word For It…
The chaps at Honest To A Malt (a genuinely recommended whisky podcast) have also reviewed the six Bimber Shoulders of Giants, as well as my friend Brian ‘@MaltMusings’ on his blog, and Ruben @WhiskyNotes also reviewed some of them.
