6 wonderful English whisky distilleries you must visit
Think Scotland has the market cornered on whisky? Think again. These six English whisky distilleries deserve your undivided attention.
The whisky distilleries of England have been globally overlooked for those of their northerly neighbours for too long. Not many international visitors (or even Brits) are aware that at least 33 of the UK’s whisky distilleries are spread across England, and the whisky is not only delicious but the distilleries are a joy to visit. It’s time to cast aside your associations with gin and embrace the English whisky scene.
While Scotland has very strict regulations on how whisky should be distilled to protect the famed Scotch reputation, English whisky has a little more latitude, which means you’ll often get to try some experimental varieties. In particular, English whisky isn’t bound to using only oak casks to mature the spirit. England is also a little warmer than Scotland, which affects the speed of ageing in the barrel and can produce riper flavours.
We’ve selected six distilleries worth your time, but with whisky being produced from Northumberland to Cornwall and every region in between, you should definitely keep English whisky on your road-trip radar (a designated driver is helpful!) as it continues to find its own unique identity.
1. Spirit of Yorkshire
Launched in 2019, Spirit of Yorkshire has been steadily building accolades with its range of Filey Bay Single Malt Whisky, recently winning several bronzes and a silver at the 2021 IWSC awards. With views of beautiful Filey Bay from the windows, this is a real field-to-bottle operation; one of few distilleries in the world to grow its own barley. You can take a tour and a tasting or settle into the adjoining Pot Still Coffee Shop for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery/Facebook
The spectrum of whiskies is really accessible to all palates, but do try the Filey Bay STR Finish: light and floral with layers of summer berries and vanilla ice cream, and a hint of spiciness from its finish in rioja red wine barriques.
2. East London Liquor Company
Perch yourself at the exposed-brick bar here for a slice of history: East London Liquor Company is home to the first London-distilled whisky in over a century. Open since 2018 in a former glue factory next to canal-side warehouses and pubs in Bow, in London’s East End, it hosts distillery tours as well as a restaurant serving food from Royale, a little pop-up conceived during the 2020–2021 COVID-19 lockdown from former head chef Lucy Timm of Michelin-starred Leroy in Shoreditch.
Of its three whiskies (Rye, Wheat, ELX Sonoma), the Rye is extremely popular, with hints of toffee apple, candied orange peel and sour cherries drifting into a warm spicy finish.
3. St George’s Distillery
Located near the Norfolk town of Thetford, St George’s Distillery is also England’s oldest. When it launched in 2006 it was the only (or only legal!) whisky distillery to open in England in 100 years. Released under The English Whisky Co., it’s now England’s most prolific malt whisky producer.
The English Whisky Co./Facebook
Visit for tours and tastings, as well as breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in the restaurant. Its best-selling whisky is The English Original, which has hints of vanilla creaminess, a slightly nutty taste and a long malty finish.
READ MORE: Isle of Islay: the ultimate guide to Scotland's whisky island
4. Adnams Copper House Distillery
Producing three unique whiskies from its Copper House Distillery that sits within its brewery in Southwold, Suffolk, Adnams is rather unique. Firstly, the owners had to challenge a law to allow them to both distil and brew on the same premises. And the brewery itself, renowned for its beer, is both energy and water efficient.
Adnams/Facebook
There are tours and experiences here to learn about their sustainably created single malt, triple malt and rye malt. But if you only taste one, try the rye; it was deemed the Best English Rye Whisky at the 2021 World Whisky Awards.
5. Cotswolds Distillery
Set around a beautiful yellow-Cotswold-stone house in the countryside, Cotswolds Distillery’s architecturally designed visitor centre (completed in 2019) is a joy to visit before you even taste the whisky. There’s an open fire in the café, a wood-burning stove in the tasting room, and all the materials have been carefully selected to age with the existing surroundings.
Cotswolds Distillery/Facebook
Here you can take masterclasses in distilling and blending as well as cocktail-making, and learn about how this craft whisky is made from Cotswolds barley. There are half a dozen different single malt whiskies to try, as well as new-make spirit and whisky amaro liqueurs. Start with the original Single Malt Whisky for creamy, spicy full-textured flavour with hints of Seville orange marmalade and black pepper that segues into a treacly red-fruit finish.
6. The Lakes Distillery
Right next to the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, The Lakes Distillery is not only one of England’s largest distilleries but it takes holistic whisky experiences to another level. It even offers music-pairing recommendations for your sipping pleasure.
You can feed the alpacas, dine in a bistro that was once a Victorian farmstead, as well as take whisky tours (the chocolate-pairing one is recommended).
It produces whiskies finished in a variety of casks (moscatel, sherry, orange wine, port), but be sure to try the Lakes Single Malt Whiskymaker’s Reserve aged in casks that previously held oloroso, pedro ximénez and red wine, for complex chocolate, caramel and toffee flavours with a hint of ginger and a creamy finish.
Lead image: barmalini/Shutterstock
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