The Making of Whitby Vodka – The Wyrmfyre Edition

When we first began distilling in Whitby, we were guided by a simple philosophy: every spirit we make must tell a story. Our gins spoke of wild foraged botanicals from the moors and coastline; our rums drew on Whitby’s seafaring past. But one question kept returning from our visitors, stockists, and loyal followers:

“When are you going to make a vodka?”

For years, we resisted. Vodka, we believed, couldn’t simply be another bottle on the shelf — it had to carry the same sense of place, history, and mystery that defines every Whitby Distillery spirit. And so, we waited. We researched. We explored the coastline and the folklore that binds Whitby to the gothic imagination.

What we found was a legend that felt fated to be distilled.

The Legend of the Wyrm

High on the cliffs above Whitby Abbey, the monks once built their home under constant threat. From the sea and the skies came the Wyrm, a dragon whose fiery breath and claws struck fear into the land. With prayers and persistence, the monks drove it back into the waves. But folklore warns: the wyrm does not die.

Instead, it returns every seven years, clawing once more at the cliffs and ruins, a reminder of Whitby’s gothic past.

It was here that we found the spark for our vodka. A spirit that would capture both the heat of dragon’s breath and the smoothness of the coastal fog. A vodka that was not just Whitby-made, but Whitby-born.

The Coastal Botanicals

Unlike many vodkas, The Wyrmfyre Edition is not stripped of character. Instead, it is defined by wild botanicals, foraged and inspired by the land and sea around us.

• Wild Heather: A floral lift, evoking the moorland above Whitby.
• Sea Buckthorn: A tart, citrus-like brightness that adds fire and energy.
• Bladderwrack: A seaweed with a rich umami depth, linking directly to the tides.
• Lemon Thyme: A soft herbal note, rounding sharp edges.

Together, these create a vodka that is rounded, velvety, and complex — not a blank canvas, but a true reflection of Whitby’s coast: fresh, wild, untamed.

Capturing Fire and Fog

In tasting The Wyrmfyre Edition, you move through two worlds. The nose is floral and herbal, lifted by a breath of sea air. The palate is richer fire at first, from the citrusy sea buckthorn and herbal depth, before smoothing into a savoury-mineral softness seasoned with Whitby sea salt, lingering like mist on the cliffs.

It’s a vodka to sip neat, savour over ice, or stir into a cocktail. For those looking for the perfect serve, our distillers suggest a Wyrm’s Martini: vodka, dry vermouth, a dash of walnut bitters, and a garnish of charred lemon or black olive — an elegant drink with a gothic twist.

The Design of the Bottle

We knew the liquid inside wasn’t the only place for storytelling. The bottle design carries subtle gothic elements: dark, moody tones balanced with coastal motifs, drawing the eye to its limited-edition status. Like the wyrm itself, it feels both dangerous and beautiful, the kind of bottle collectors will want to hold onto long after the spirit is gone.

Why Vodka, Why Now?

For us, the decision to finally release a vodka was about timing. Our gins and rums had built us a following of collectors, adventurers, and spirit enthusiasts who trusted Whitby Distillery to craft drinks of character. We didn’t want to release a vodka until we had found a story — and a flavour — worthy of our coastal roots.

Available October 3, 2025

The Wyrmfyre Edition Vodka launches this autumn as Whitby Distillery’s annual Gothic Edition release. Available from our online shop, the distillery tasting room, and selected bars and stockists, it’s designed to be the spirit of the season: bold, mysterious, unforgettable.

As the legend says:

“Born from the fire. Returned by the tide.”