As we move into 2022, there are now 40 whisky distilleries from the tip of the south-west to the furthest north-eastern edge of England, at all stages of development; some just getting started, the oldest of which has been distilling for nearly 20 years.
The Story of English whisky has just begun….and in response to consumer demand, the English Whisky Guild (EWG) has been established with an overarching vision to showcase and protect the remarkable quality and diversity of whiskies crafted in England.
And, with distilleries now spanning the length and breadth of England, the volume of spirit produced by English distilleries is forecasted to grow 189% (from 2019-2023). Over the same period, the number of bottles sold is predicted to increase by 418%.
Currently composed of 15 founder members, who are all distilling spirit at a wide variety of production scales, the first step of the EWG has been to submit a Geographical Indicator (‘GI’) to DEFRA.
The GI will legally define English whisky to ensure consistent, understandable standards for all current and prospective distillers, of all sizes. The GI also contains proposals to bolster and support other connected UK industries, for example, grains used must be both grown and malted in the UK.
In addition, the Guild will also strive to nurture a community of supportive producers who share achievements and learnings for the future good of English Whisky. It will also build awareness of the English whisky category among drinkers, creating real and virtual spaces where English whisky can be discovered, learned about and enjoyed.
For more information, visit www.englishwhiskyguild.com
For Reference – previous Inside the Cask postings:
- Inside the Cask blog post from May 2020 on the 24 English Whisky Distilleries operational at the time.
0 Comments