A Toast to the Future – The Road to Jerez, Part VII

At the close of this summer, Hawkridge’s Phil and James embarked from Portsmouth alongside Cripps & Co’s Harry Henriques, Fred Hicks, and Alex D’Elia on a journey to discover the casks that will shape Hawkridge’s and Cripps’ future spirits—tracing each barrel back to the very place its story begins. Their travels led them through sunlit vineyards, historic cellars, and working cooperages across France and into southern Spain, where they met the craftsmen behind the craft and hand-selected the wine and sherry barrels destined to nurture their spirits in the years to come.

The journey home began with the same quiet sense of purpose that had accompanied us from Portsmouth. Yet now, it carried a new dimension: a sense of accomplishment and anticipation. Across France and Spain, through vineyards, cellars, and sunlit streets, we had discovered not only exceptional casks but also the stories that give them life.

Each barrel we brought back to Hawkridge Distillers represents more than wood and wine. They are vessels of history, patience, and craft – waiting to lend their character to our whisky. From Domaine Baron’s subtle French oak to the centuries-old staves of Páez Morilla, the journey had shown us the art behind the material.

As we drove north, reflecting on the road behind us, we raised a quiet toast to the future. There is a thrill in knowing that these casks will soon cradle our spirit, shaping flavours that are both English and global, steeped in story, and matured in care.

For Hawkridge and Cripps & Co, this trip was more than sourcing – it was a reaffirmation of why we do what we do. Craft is measured in patience, respect, and attention to detail. And sometimes, it requires a journey that stretches thousands of miles, over mountains and across seas, to find the perfect expression.

The road to Jerez had ended, but the story of these barrels – and the whisky they will nurture – was just beginning.