York celebrates 800th birthday with whisky galore

What would King John have made of it? Short work, we suspect. Eight centuries after the monarch granted York its own charter, we can toast our independence in York 800 whisky.

The festival firewater is the brainchild of those Scotchaphiles at the Whisky Lounge, York’s business dedicated to spreading the good news about this very special drink.

Tonight, September 5, the lounge crew launch the York 800 whisky, a blended malt created from three Scottish distilleries. And all are welcome to come along and try it.

“We’ve wanted to create a York whisky for a while,” said Joe Clark, Whisky Lounge missionary, pictured right. “This was the perfect opportunity to do it.

“It’s a blended malt, very light, quite sweet, with honey overtones.”

Not only is a warming tot of York 800 whisky the perfect way to keep out the autumnal nip in the air, drinking it is also a charitable enterprise.

Profits from sales of the special blend goes to two great causes, S.N.A.P.P.Y,, which provides social and recreational opportunities for children and young people with special needs, and IDAS, which provides support to people affected by domestic abuse.

So you’re almost obliged to buy a bottle. And as only a small batch of York 800 whisky was made, better get those skates on.

The launch party takes place at Hotel Du Vin, 89 The Mount, York, tonight, September 5. You can go along to try the York blend from 7pm. It’ll be on sale in city pubs and shops from tomorrow.

Full details are on the Whisky Lounge website.

Of course the big question is: will this put an end to age-old hostilities between Scotland and York? Will it even bring about the repeal of the bylaw allowing Yorkies to shoot a Scotsman on sight, providing we use a crossbow?