The 23rd April 2020 was St. George’s Day, a day to celebrate the patron saint of England. In the world of whiskies, it also coincided with the occasion when English whisky distilleries met for the first time to share ideas and discuss plans for the future. The English whisky movement continues to grow with more and more whiskies maturing in warehouses south of the Hadrian’s Wall.
*** Updated English Whisky Map – 3rd Edition (click here)***
The full list of 24 English whisky distilleries can be seen on the map above (courtesy of Cooper King Distillery) – click here for the link.
Note that technically, Hicks and Healey is not a distillery, but the name given to the partnership between St Austell Brewery and Healey’s Cyder Farm. They have been included in the map as they have produced, and are still producing single malt whiskey (with an intentional ‘e’ used in the spelling of whisky).
Across the country, English whisky distilleries are trialling a range of grains, yeast strains and fermentation periods. There is variation in the type and size of cask used for maturation, and in the type of still being used to produce the new-make spirit.
“They’re not trying to be Scotch, nor should they be. They are trying to be English. Comparisons are therefore pointless and, to be honest, dangerous. They have a freedom to experiment which Scotch distillers either feel they don’t or are not permitted to have. We live in exciting times.” whisky writer Dave Broom
Here is a list of all 24 English Whisky Distilleries (as of May 2020):
- Durham Distillery (Durham) established 2014/ spirit still capacity 1,000 litres/ whisky released date TBC
- Whittaker’s Distillery (Harrogate) established 2015/ spirit still capacity 1,000 litres/ whisky release date 2024
- Cooper King Distillery (York) established 2016/ spirit still capacity 900 litres/ whisky release date 2022
- Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery (Hunmanby) established 2016/ spirit still capacity 3,500 litres/ whisky release date 2019
- Copper House Distillery (Southwold) established 2010/ spirit still capacity unknown/ whisky release date 2013
- St. George’s Distillery (Roudham) established 2006/ spirit still capacity 1,800 litres/ whisky release date was 2009
‘Chapter 5’, was the first legal whisky released by St. George’s Distillery, which was started by father and son James and Andrew Nelstrop.
- Wharf Distillery (Potterspury) established 2014/ spirit still capacity 300 litres/ whisky release date 2019
- Isle of Wight Distillery (Ryde) established established 2015/ spirit still capacity unknown/ whisky released date TBC
- Copper Rivet Distillery (Chatham) established 2016/ spirit still capacity 2,000 litres/ whisky release date 2020
- East London Liquor Co. (London) established 2015/ spirit still capacity 650 litres/ whisky release date 2018
- The London Distillery Co. (London) established 2013/ spirit still capacity 650 litres/ whisky release date 2018
- Bimber Distillery (London) established 2015/ spirit still capacity 600 litres/ whisky release date 2019
- Dartmoor Whisky Distillery (Bovey Tracey) established 2015/ spirit still capacity 1,400 litres/ whisky release date 2020
- Dartmoor Distillery (Princetown) established 2015/ spirit still capacity 13,500/ whisky release date 2024
- Hicks & Healey (Truro) established 2003/ spirit still capacity 1,200 litres/ whisky release date 2011
Made with barley grown in south-east Cornwall, the wash was mixed at St Austell Brewery’s traditional Victorian brew-house, before being transferred to Healey’s Farm and passed through a double distillation in a unique, traditional copper pot still.
- Circumstance Distillery (Bristol) established 2018/ spirit still capacity 1,800 litres/ whisky release date 2021
- The Oxford Artisan Distillery (Oxford) established 2017/ spirit still capacity 2,400 litres/ whisky release date 2020
- Cotswolds Distillery (Stourton) established 2014/ spirit still capacity 1,600 litres/ whisky release date 2017
Distillery was started by Daniel Szor, who acquired the estate with two stone buildings before having them converted into a visitor centre and distillery.
- Chase Distillery (Preston Wynne) established 2008/ spirit still capacity unknown/ whisky release date TBC
- Ludlow Distillery (Craven Arms) established 2014/ spirit still capacity 200 litres/ whisky release date 2018
- Henstone Distillery (Oswestry) established 2017/ spirit still capacity 1,000 litres/ whisky release date 2021
- White Peak Distillery (Ambergate) established 2016/ spirit still capacity 2,100 litres/ whisky release date 2021
- Forest Distillery (Macclesfield) established 2014/ spirit still capacity 500 litres/ whisky release date 2021
- The Lakes Distillery (Setmurthy) established 2011/ spirit still capacity 3,600 litres/ whisky release date 2018
For reference – from Inside the Cask:
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