English Whisky
TypeDistilled beverage
Country of origin England
IntroducedFirst introduced

1800s

Reintroduced

2003
Discontinued1900s
Alcohol by volume 40%[1] - 67.9%[2]
(46% avg alc vol %)
Colour• Caramel • Yellow
Flavour• sweet • savoury
• spicy • smoky[3]
Ingredients• Malt • Cereal Grains • Water
Variants
Related products
WebsiteOrganisations

English Whisky Guild (est. 2022)
(23 members) [4]

English Whisky Society[5]

British Distillers Alliance[6]

English whisky is a liquor made from cereal grains, malt and water.[7] There are currently two types of English whiskies produced malt whisky and grain whisky.[8]

Although England is not well known for whisky production, distillers operated in London, Liverpool and Bristol until the late 19th century, after which production of English single malt whisky ceased until 2003.[9] Since then, English whisky has experienced a resurgence in production.[10]

History

Origins and discontinuation

England, like Scotland, has a history of producing single malt whisky. However, the production of English single malt whisky ceased around 1905 with the closure of Lea Valley Distillery, in Stratford, London, by the Distillers Company Limited, one of the forerunners of Diageo.

In the 1887 book The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom by Alfred Barnard, the following English distilleries were listed:[11]

  • Lea Valley Distillery, Stratford, Essex (founded in the late 19th century) — produced both grain and malt whisky.
  • Bank Hall Distillery (Liverpool) — produced grain and malt whisky.
  • Bristol Distillery (founded in the 17th century) — produced grain whisky which was "sent to Scotland and Ireland to make a Blended Scotch and Irish whisky, for whisky purpose it is specially adapted, and stands in high favour".
  • Vauxhall Distillery in Liverpool (founded in 1781) — produced grain whisky.

Re establishment

In 2005, The English Whisky Co. Ltd got permission to build the first registered whisky distillery in England for over a century; it first release of single malt occurred in 2009; which became the only English Whisky to have been bottled and released for over 100 years. In 2013 The London Distillery Company began production of the first single malt whisky in London since Lea Valley Distillery closed in 1903. Three other English distilleries, also producing whisky by 2014, were The Cotswolds Distillery, Ludlow Distillery and The Lakes Distillery.

Definition

Current Definition

There is currently no specific definition of English Whisky, however there is process being made on creating a statutory definition. English whisky producers currently follow EU Regulation (2019/787)) that define whisky alongside the British Standards institutes whisky guidelines.[12][lower-alpha 1]

Definition guidance

On 12 September 2023 the British Standards Institute published its first guidelines on how English, Scotch Welsh and Irish whisky should be produced and packaged. These guidelines state that whisky must:

  • be caramel in colour
  • be matured for at least three years in wooden caskets
  • not be sweetened or have additives
  • ABV should be a minimum of 40%
  • distillation should be conducted at less than 94.8% volume.[14]

Definition changes

On 14 February 2022, the English Whisky Guild applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) in order to establish a legal definition for English Whisky,[13] with suggestions being submitted for what should be included in the GI, such as specifying that:

  • whisky is washed in England
  • whisky is distilled in England
  • whisky casks are matured in England
  • grain is from United Kingdom[15]

Distilleries

There are currently 49 English distilleries across 9 regions in England,[16] 26 independent distilleries and 23 distilleries that are members of the English Whisky Guild.[17]

The English whisky distilleries are all at various stages of development with the oldest St George’s Distillery brewing whisky for nearly 20 years [17] and The Cotswolds distillery is the largest producer of whisky in England.[18]

Brands

No Brands No of whiskies
released		 Most popular whisky Special releases Citations
1. Oxford Rye Whisky 12[19] Red Red Rye Heritage Grains Anniversary Edition
1. Oxford Rye Purple Grain Whisky 2017[20]
2. The Oxford Artisan Distillery Oxford Rye Whisky[21]		 [22]
2. The Lakes Whiskymakers 79[23] Infinity Single Malt Whisky Reflections Single Malt Whisky Anniversary Release[24]
3. Bimber 251[25] Apogee
Pure Malt Whisky		 Bimber The Coronation of King Charles III Edition Single Malt Whisky [26]
4. East London Liquor Company 12[27] London Rye Whisky
5. The English Co 463[28] Single Cask Release Malt Amathus Selection 1. The English Lest We Forget Single Malt Whisky 2019[29]
2. The English Lest We Forget Single Malt Whisky 2022[30]

The Fine Drop Single Malt Whisky 2023[31]

6. Cotswolds 120[32] Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky Cotswolds 2017 Highgrove Coronation
1. Ex Red Wine STR Single Malt Whisky[33]
2. Ex Red Wine STR & Bourbon Single Malt Whisky[34]
7. Sacred Spirits 2[35] Sacred Peated English Whisky
8. Bankhall 4[36] Rebellion Corn, Rye & Malt Artisanal Whisky [37]
9. Dartmoor 16[38] Dartmoor Single Malt Whisky
10. Filey Bay 7[39] Finley Bay Single Malt Whisky
11. White Peak 40[40] White Peak Cask Aged Rum
12. Adnams 26[41] Adnams Single Malt Whisky [42]
13. Anno 7 [43] Anno Blended Whisky
14. Forest Whisky 92[44] Forest Single Malt Whisky
15. Gulliver’s Gulliver’s 47 Single Malt Whisky
16. Norfolk Nog Norfolk Nog Single Grain Whisky

Regions

Numbers of distilleries by region
RegionNumber
Devon & Cornwall7
South West5
London4
South East4
East Anglia2
Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire6
Midlands7
West Midlands (Rowley Regis)4
North West4
North East3

England has 46 distilleries in total across 9 different regions.[45]

Economic valuation

In March to April 2023 the EWG conducted a survey of English distilleries. The survey found there are currently 38,000 casks of English Whisky maturing in distillery warehouses with an estimated 50,000 casks expected to be laid down by distilleries by the end of 2024. The total value of the maturing stock estimated to exceed 1bn during this period.[46]

English Whisky distilleries have created 443 jobs across England and is available in 32 markets around the world[46]

Whisky types and styles

Whisky Types

Malt Whisky

English Malt is whisky made from a cereal grain and water that has been distilled at least twice in a copper pot still and matured in wooden casks of at least 700 litres for a minimum of three years.[48]

Whisky Styles

Flavour variations

English Whisky has 4 different flavour variations:

  • sweet (vanilla, oats, raisins, peach, apricot)
  • savoury (rye bread, herbs)
  • spicy (cooking spices, pepper, gingerbread, citrus peel)
  • smoky (oak, peat, leather)[45]

Achievements

Auctions

First bottle auctioned

On 12 July 2018 the Lakes distillery auctioned and sold the first bottling of its Single Malt Whisky Genesis for £7,900 making it the most expensive bottle of English whisky sold at auction.[50]

Current record held at auction

On 8 September 2022 the White Peaks distillery auctioned its Wire Works Single Malt Whisky for £9,900 (US$11,377) setting a new record.[51]

Oldest whisky in England

On 30 November 2023 the English Whisky Co released their 16 year old port cask whisky, the oldest whisky in England.[52]

Net zero whisky distillation

On 6 November 2023 the Cooper King Distillery released a whisky distilled using only net zero energy.[53]

Events

Birmingham

On November 18, 2023 Birmingham hosted its second English Whisky Festival with 32 distilleries participating in the event. The event consisted of two whisky master classes, one by the Cooper King Distillery and one by The English Whisky Co as well as whisky tasting and other activities.[54]

London

On November 28, 2023 16 whisky produces attended the English whisky showcase at the U.K Parliament in Westminster Hall to promote and bring awareness to the growing English whisky sector in England.[55]

Bibliography

Name of Book Author ISBN Cite
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020/2021 Jim Murray (2020)

ISBN 9781838320713, 1838320717

(2021) ISBN 9781838320706, 1838320709

 [56][57]
The Whisky Dictionary Ian Wisniewski ISBN 9781784726393, 1784726397 [58]
The Science and Commerce of Whisky Ian Buxton, Paul S Hughes ISBN 1788017102, 9781788017107 [59]
The New Single Malt Whiskey Carlo DeVito ISBN 9781604336474, 1604336471 [60]

See also

Economic

Liquors

Whisky

Wine

References

  1. ↑ "The Lakes 01-year-old". Whisky Base.
  2. ↑ "Bimber 2016 Spirit". Whisky Base.
  3. ↑ Woodard, Richard (July 8, 2022). "A return to English whisky". Decanter.
  4. ↑ Jeewood, Aaron (April 24, 2023). "English Whisky Guild appoints CEO as industry forecast to possess over £1bn in maturing stock". Worshipful Company of Distillers.
  5. ↑ Riley, Lisa (October 1, 2020). "English Whisky Society officially launched as part of first festival". Harpers Wine & Spirit.
  6. ↑ "Associate Members". grassytest. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  7. ↑ "Exploring English Whisky: The Taste of Innovation". Whisky 300. 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  8. ↑ "Introduction to English Whisky". The Dram Team. 2020-07-22. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  9. ↑ Cornish take on Scotch, BBC News, Thursday, 1 May 2003.
  10. ↑ Abbott, Billy (28 July 2017). "English whisky – beating the Scots at their own game?". The Whisky Exchange. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  11. ↑ Barnard, Alfred (1969). The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom. Google Books: David & Charles. ISBN 9780715344712.
  12. ↑ "What is English whisky?". Exploring English Whisky. September 6, 2019.
  13. 1 2 Malczewski, Kate (February 25, 2022). "Producers seek legal definition for English whisky". The Spirits Business.
  14. ↑ Feilden, Eloise (September 12, 2023). "First UK standards on whisky production published". The Drinks Business.
  15. ↑ Whisky, Bulk (May 9, 2022). "English Whisky producers fight for a GI". Bulk Wine & Spirits.
  16. ↑ "Distillery Directory - Location: England". Distillery Trail.
  17. 1 2 De Almeida, André (April 30, 2023). "The English Whisky Map 5th Edition". Inside the Cask.
  18. ↑ Sheldon, Liberty (July 28, 2023). "The Cotswolds Distillery named the most popular whisky distillery in UK and Ireland". The Oxfordshire Live.
  19. ↑ "Oxford Rye". Whiskey Base.
  20. ↑ "Oxford Rye Whisky Purple Grain 2017". Whisky Base.
  21. ↑ "The Oxford Artisan Distillery Oxford Rye 2017". Whisky Base.
  22. ↑ West, Millie (June 8, 2023). "The Best English Whisky to Buy in 2023, According to the Experts". Esquire.
  23. ↑ "The Lakes". Whisky Base.
  24. ↑ "The Lakes Reflections Single Malt Whisky (release for Simon Rogan)". Whisky Base.
  25. ↑ "Bimber". Whisky Base.
  26. ↑ "Bimber The Coronation of King Charles III Edition". Whisky Base.
  27. ↑ "East London Whisky". Whisky Base.
  28. ↑ "The English Whisky". Whisky Base.
  29. ↑ "The English Lest We Forget 2019". Whisky Base.
  30. ↑ "The English Lest We Forget". Whisky Base.
  31. ↑ "Samuel Gulliver's & Co proudly unveils 'The Fine Drop': A whisky fit for champions". The Luxury Editor.
  32. ↑ "Cotswolds". Whisky Base.
  33. ↑ "Cotswolds 2017 Highgrove Coronation Ex Red Wine STR". Whisky Base.
  34. ↑ "Cotswolds 2017 Highgrove Coronation Ex Wine STR & Bourbon". Whisky Base.
  35. ↑ "Sacred Spirits". Whisky Base.
  36. ↑ "Bankhall". Whisky Base.
  37. ↑ Chambers, Matt. "Matured In The UK: The Rise of English Whisky". Ape to Gentleman (Magazine).
  38. ↑ "Dartmoor Whisky". Whisky Base.
  39. ↑ "Spirit of Yorkshire". Whisky Base.
  40. ↑ "White Peak". Whisky Base.
  41. ↑ "Adnams". Whisky Base.
  42. ↑ Martin, Lydia (May 20, 2022). "11 Best English Whisky Brands (2023 Updated)". Liquor Laboratory.
  43. ↑ "Anno". Whisky Base.
  44. ↑ "Forest Whisky". Whisky Base.
  45. 1 2 "The Definitive English Whisky Map". Exploring English Whisky. 2023.
  46. 1 2 Carruthers, Nicola (April 25, 2023). "English Whisky Guild hires CEO". The Spirits Business.
  47. ↑ Mourby, Adrian (2021-10-06). "English Whisky". British Travel Journal. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  48. ↑ Jeffreys, Henry (October 6, 2022). "How do you define English whisky?". Master of Malt.
  49. ↑ "English Whisky". Gauntleys of Nottingham. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  50. ↑ Evans, Matt (July 12, 2018). "First Lakes single malt sold for £7,900". Scotch Whisky.com.
  51. ↑ Brooker, Alice (September 8, 2022). "White Peak breaks record at auction". The Spirits Business.
  52. ↑ Wales, Bethany (November 30, 2023). "The English Distillery releases country's oldest whisky". Eastern Daily Press.
  53. ↑ Greenwood, Darren (2023-12-06). "Coopers King Distillery releases 'net zero' whisky". York Press. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  54. ↑ Case, Charlie (September 26, 2023). "An All English Whisky Festival Will Return To Birmingham This November". Secret Birmingham.
  55. ↑ White, Barrie (December 2, 2023). "Shropshire: Henstone Distillery promotes whisky at Parliament". Border Counties Advertiser.
  56. ↑ Murray, Jim (2020). Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020. Dram Good Books Ltd. pp. 305–317. ISBN 9781838320713.
  57. ↑ Murry, Jim (26 November 2020). Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021. Dram Good Books Ltd. pp. 297–330. ISBN 9781838320706.
  58. ↑ Wisniewski, Ian (2019). The Whisky Dictionary. Octopus. pp. 25–30. ISBN 9781784726393.
  59. ↑ Buxton, Ian; Hughes, Paul S. (2021). The science and commerce of whisky (2nd ed.). London: Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 307. ISBN 978-1-78801-710-7.
  60. ↑ The New Single Malt Whiskey: More Than 325 Bottles, From 197 Distilleries, in More Than 25 Countries. Simon and Schuster. 2016-10-25. pp. 191, 193–196, 199, 201 (citations throughout the book). ISBN 978-1-60433-647-4.

Castle, Ian (16 May 2014). "". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2014.

Rowley, Tom (9 February 2014). "English distillers race to profit from the £4bn whisky boom". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 March 2014.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ A submission has been made to obtain a Geographical Indication for the term “English Whisky” [13]
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.