English single malt

English single malt is a single malt whisky produced in England and distilled at a single distillery. ^[1]

Example of English whisky single malt cask

There are currently 5 notable whisky brands that produce English single malt including Cotswolds, Foundry, Lakes, The English and Wire Works ^{[2] [3]}

There are currently 60 distilleries producing English whisky with a bulk of the production being English single malt. ^[4]

History

English single malt was first produced in England in 1636 with the establishment of the Worshipful Company of Distillers. ^[5]

English single malt production ceased in 1900’s due to competition from Scotch whisky and a shift towards gin production, ^[6] though it was later revived in 2006 by the English Whisky Distillery. ^[7]

In 2022 the English Whisky Guild submitted a geographical indication to legally define and protect the term English single malt. ^[8]

Definition

Currently English single malt is defined by EU Regulation (2019/787) ^[9] and the British Standards Institute guidance (BS 8636) ^[10]

GI Application

Main article: English whisky GI

To be defined as a English single malt a whisky must comply with the criteria below:

• Ingredients: made with cereal grain and malted barley from the U.K, along with English water
• Wash: (milled and fermented in England)
• Distillation: batch distilled in copper pots at a single distillery in England to a strength of less than 94.8% ABV
• Maturation: in wooden casks of no more than 700 litres for a minimum of three years in England ^[a]
• Bottled: at a minimum of 40% abv

• Additives/Sweeteners: no additional sweeteners or additives except for E150a caramel colouring ^[11]

If the application is successful this will become the legal definition for English single malt. ^{[12] [13]}

Dispute

Opposition

As of February 21, 2025 there has been an ongoing dispute in reference to the term English single malt, with multiple objections from different organisations including the First Minister of Scotland John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon and the Director of Strategy and Communications at the Scotch Whisky Association Graham Littlejohn who released a statement opposing the definition of English single malt. ^[14]

Support

The English whisky Guild has opposed the Scotch Whisky Associations statement explaining that ensuring quality, innovation and legal protection is at the heart of what they we do and further explaining that the English single malt definition allows distilleries to cooperate with breweries to create more innovative whiskies. ^[15]

Achievements

On September 8 2022 White Peaks Distillery sold its Wire Works Single malt whisky at auction for £15,000 (US$17,238), with this being the highest priced English single malt to be sold at auction. ^[16]

On July 14 2025 The English Whisky Co released its Cask 1 (18 year old) single malt this being the oldest English single malt to be sold. ^[17]

Further reading

Murray, Jim (December 11, 2020). Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020. Dram Good Books Ltd. ISBN   9781838320713.

See also

Wiki

• List of independent English whisky bottlers

External

English whisky GI (1)(2)

References and footnotes

Footnotes

1. There is no specific wood type specified.

References

1. "Plans to 'legally define' English whisky would 'sabotage' Scotch single malt whisky's reputation". The Scotsman. 2025-02-20. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
2. Squires, Beth (2025-03-24). "The Best English Single Malt Whisky According To The World Whiskies Awards ROW 2025". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
3. Squires, Beth (2024-11-22). "The Best English Whisky According To The World Whiskies Awards 2024". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
4. Barton, Susannah Skiver (2025-04-10). "If England's Whisky Industry Is Thriving, Why Is It Still Struggling to Gain Recognition in the U.S.?". VinePair. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
5. Features, Chris Carter published in (2024-08-28). "The rebirth of English whisky: should you invest?". Moneyweek. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
6. Jaume, Chris (2017-05-08). "Where English Whisky is Headed in the Next 5 Years". The Yorkshire Gent. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
7. Zondervan (2016-10-25). The New Single Malt Whiskey: More Than 325 Bottles, From 197 Distilleries, in More Than 25 Countries. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-1-60433-647-4.
8. "English whisky makes its mark — Drinksbiz Magazine — New Zealand's Premier Drinks Magazine". Drinksbiz Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
9. Carruthers, Nicola (2025-04-08). "War of words: the English whisky GI debate". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
10. "New 'guidelines' for UK whisky announced". whiskymag.com. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
11. Dwyer, Phil (2024-05-11). "What Is Happening To English Whisky?". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
12. "English whisky GI application is 'damaging' to single malt, claims SWA". whiskymag.com. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
13. Dodd, Oli (February 21, 2025). "English whisky GI proposal provokes SWA criticism". Drinks International.
14. "Scotch makers condemn English single malt whisky proposal". BBC News. 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
15. Carruthers, Nicola (2025-02-20). "SWA slams English whisky GI proposal". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
16. Brooker, Alice (2022-09-08). "White Peak breaks record at auction". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
17. "Bar Magazine | Developing Premium Bar Excellence | THE ENGLISH DISTILLERY RELEASES CASK 001 – THE BIRTH OF ENGLISH WHISKY'S REVIVAL". 2025-07-14. Retrieved 2025-07-15.