English whisky

English whisky (whiskey) is a liquor made from cereal grains, malt and water. This includes malt whisky and grain whisky.

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. By 2016, it had resurged.

Origins and discontinuation
In 1825 the Chancellor of the Exchequer reduced the duty on alcohol and allowed distillers to sell directly to the public believing this would lead to distillers producing higher quality spirits, remove the rectification process which used dangerous chemicals, allow distillers to prosper and produce profit for the treasury. The reduction alcohol duty lead to the consumption of English spirits near doubling and the establishment of England's reputation for distilling excellence, this alongside the introduction of the casks aged English whisky lead to an increase in demand of English spirits which accounted for a sixth of Englands revenue by 1885.

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

In 1903 Lea Valley Distillery, in Stratford, London owned by The Distillers Company Limited closed and moved their production to Scotland due to the expanding popularity of gin and the taking off of Scotch 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. Its first release of single malt was in 2009. This was 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
There is a process underway on creating a statutory definition. English whisky producers currently follow EU Regulation (2019/787) that define whisky alongside the British Standards institutes whisky guidelines.

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.

Legal changes
On 14 February 2022, the English Whisky Guild applied for a geographical indication in order to establish a legal definition for English whisky. Suggested criteria include:
 * whisky is washed in England
 * whisky is distilled in England
 * whisky casks are matured in England
 * grain is from United Kingdom

Distilleries
There are currently 55 English distilleries across 9 regions in England, 26 independent distilleries and 24 distilleries that are members of the English Whisky Guild.

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

Brands
As of 2024 there are currently 20 brands of whisky in England.

Bimber, The Lakes and Cotswolds are the biggest brands of whisky in England by production.

Regions
England has 55 distilleries across 9 regions.

South East
There are six whisky distilleries in the South East of England: The Oxford Artisan Distillery, Black Bottle Distillery, Isle of Wight distillery, Copper Rivet Distillers, Anno Distillers and Canterbury Brewers & Distillers.

Economic valuation
From March to April 2023 the English Whisky Guild conducted a survey of English distilleries. The survey found that there are currently 38,000 casks of English whisky maturing in distillery warehouses, and 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.

On 4 June 2024, the English Whisky Guild published its first annual report. The report found that sales of English whisky last year equated to 50,000 (9L) casks with 40% of English whisky being sold internationally as well as 250,000 people visiting English whisky distillery last year. The total value of English whisky sold domestically and internationally is £1bn

English whisky distilleries have created 443 jobs across England, and the product is sold internationally in 32 countries around the world, including: Japan, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Singapore and the United States.

Flavours
English whisky has four flavours:


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

Auctions
On 8 September 2022, the White Peaks Distillery auctioned its Wire Works Single Malt Whisky which sold for a total of £9,900 ($11,337).

Net zero whisky distillation
On 6 November 2023 the Cooper King Distillery released a whisky distilled using only net zero energy.

Partnership agreements
On 1 December 2021 Gullivers & Co signed a partnership agreements with England Rugby to produce rugby themed whisky which would become the official whisky of the English Rugby Union.

As of 2023 the partnership agreement between Gullivers and England Ruby is still active with England's No. 6 Single Malt Whisky becoming the latest English rugby themed whisky to be produced

Gauntleys Whiskies
On 4 April 2020, Gauntleys Whiskies began selling English whiskies from a range of distilleries including from the English Whisky Co, Filey Bay and Henstone Distillery.

Digital Distiller
On 23 November 2023, Digital Distiller launched a specialist online English whisky and gin subscription service. The service list over 50 different English whiskies bottles as well as selection of English Whisky casks which are obtained through direct partnerships with distilleries.

International awards
On 30 April 2024, the Circumstance Distillery Single Grain Estate Whisky earned a gold medal at the international spirits challenge.

Birmingham
On 18 November 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.

London
On 28 November 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.

Whisky Trails
On 28 August 2018, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association launched an English - Welsh Whisky Trail.

English distilleries that are on the trail include:


 * 1) Adnams Cooper House Distillery
 * 2) Bimber Distillery
 * 3) Chase Distillery
 * 4) Copper King Distillery
 * 5) Copper Rivet Distillery
 * 6) Cotswolds Distillery
 * 7) Dartmoor Distillery
 * 8) Durhams Distillery
 * 9) East London Liquor Company
 * 10) The English Whisky Co
 * 11) Hicks and Healey Distillery
 * 12) Isle of Wight Distillery
 * 13) The Lakes Distillery
 * 14) The London Distillery Co (Closed)

Economic

 * Economy of England
 * Food and drink industry in England

Liquors

 * Gin

Whisky
 * Outline of whisky
 * List of whisky brands
 * List of British Standards
 * New world whisky

Wine

 * English sparkling wine
 * English wine cask units

Organisations

 * Exploring English Whisky
 * British Distillers Alliance
 * Briggs of Burton