The Meteoric Rise Of English Whisky

English whiskies do not enjoy the same global acclaim that Scotch whiskies do. However, like their storied neighbors, England has a long history of producing single malt whisky. But there was a time though where the production of English whisky came to a grinding halt. More renowned for its gin, the English needed to rely on their neighbors for high-quality whisky.

After almost a century’s disappearance from the whisky map, English whiskies are reappearing with a vengeance. Here we detail the early years, the disappearance, and the re-emergence of English whisky. Once we’ve done all that, we’ll also look at the best bottles of English whisky you can try. Let’s get started!

The History of English Whisky

England is not new to the production of spirits. In the mid-1700s, there were nearly 20 million liters of spirit produced by the distilleries of England. However, rectifiers had a greater say on the end product than distillers. Rectifiers were people who would buy spirit from a distiller and “rectify” it to suit their own tastes, before selling it on.

This is because most of the spirit was unpalatable. Rectifiers had to redistill spirits with botanicals before they hit the market. For English distillers, the rise to prominence started in 1825. This was partly driven by the chancellor reducing duty on alcohol which allowed distillers to sell directly to the public.

The reasoning was that the changes would allow English distillers to produce higher-quality spirits, and sell more. Equally, it would hinder rectifiers who often mixed it with noxious botanicals.

The result is that English distillers were able to produce higher-quality spirits that did not need altering. Around this time, wooden casks were brought in solely for transporting the product over long distances. Before long, the unique elements that the casks gave the spirits were noticed, and this started the tradition of aging whisky in casks.

In the few years that followed 1825, the reputation of English distillers soared, and sales of English spirits boomed. By 1885, a sixth of the nation’s revenue was contributed by duties from various spirits, including whisky.

There were a few prominent distilleries at the time such as the Lea Valley Distillery in London, the Bank Hall and Vauxhall distilleries in Liverpool, and the Bristol distillery. All of these have sadly been closed now for over 100 years.

Everything came crashing down for English distillers around the turn of the century. There was a boom in demand for Scotch, which came hand in hand with changes in Scottish excise laws that made the production of Scotch more financially favorable.

The result was that many companies moved across the border, abandoning the English distilleries. In 1903, the last of the English distilleries closed and they wouldn’t come back for the rest of the century.

The Resurrection of English Whiskies

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English whisky didn’t die away but more slipped into a long slumber. This was a sleep that lasted for nearly a century. The rise started with Hicks and Healey in 2003. Two drinks producers in Cornwall (St Austell Brewer and Healey Cyder Farm) came together to produce a single malt whisky.

It was in 2006 that English whisky’s second debut on the world whisky map was really felt. This came with the opening of Norfolk’s St George Distillery by The English Whisky Company. It was the first English distillery for over a century.

The company swiftly released Chapter 6, which sold out instantly. Other best-selling and ground-breaking English whiskies have followed that first release. In 2017, the company released Founders Private Cellar, the first 10-year-old English Whisky.

Another strong announcement of the rise of English whisky was made in 2013 by The London Distillery Company (TLDC). 110 long years after the closure of Lea Valley, TLDC started production, ensuring that the city of London can once again boast of being a home to single malt whisky.

TLDC went into administration in 2020, so its stay on the scenes was brief but its effect will be long-lasting. Following its lead, other distilleries have opened up in London. These include the East London Liquor Company (ELLC) and Bimber Distillery.

The ELLC was founded in 2014 by former actor Alex Wolpert. His mission was to make available locally produced, high-quality drinks at affordable prices. London rye whisky was the first to come out of the distiller. This was followed by single malt whisky, and then a wheat whisky. From producing 1,000 bottles a month, ELLC now produces about 15,000 bottles per month. It plans to quadruple production by the end of 2022.

In West London, Bimber Distillery kick-started in 2016 with a mission to produce high-quality whiskies using traditional methods. After the three years minimum maturation period, Bimber released its first single malt whisky, aptly titled The First. The release was limited to 1,000 bottles, and they sold out in less than three hours. Over in the Lake District area, the Lakes Distillery was officially opened in 2015. Just four years later, it was already making expansion plans that’ll almost double its production capacity.

Some great English Whiskies that have come from the Lakes Distillery include the blended whisky The One, a self-produced whisky The Lakes Genesis, and the brand repositioning single malt whisky The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No. 1. Besides whisky, The Lakes Distillery also produces gin and vodka.

The Lakes Distillery has demonstrated that English whiskies can hold their own against whiskies from anywhere in the world. The first bottle of its first single malt sold for £7,900 ($10,480) at auction, making it the world’s most expensive auction-sold bottle of whisky for a new distillery. The Lakes Distillery also made a big statement with the release of its “Quatrefoils” collections, a limited edition of English single malts.

The Cotswolds Distillery has also had its say in the rise of English whiskies. Like the Lake Distillery, Cotswolds Distillery was founded in 2014, and with a focus on the single malt whisky business. However, Cotswolds took the “destination distillery” approach to new heights.

Cotswolds Distillery is highly rated for both the quality of spirits it produces and its visitor experience. Touring the distillery gives such an amazing experience that it sees over 30,000 visitors a year.  To further enhance the experience, the company plans to invest in a new visitor center. Yorkshire is another area aiding the rise of British whiskies with two great distilleries. The Spirit of Yorkshire distillery and Chris Jaume’s Cooper King Distillery.

The Spirit of Yorkshire distillery is a farmer and brewer partnership, so it has a focus on farm-to-bottle whiskies. The standard distillery has two of the largest Forsyth pot stills outside Scotland.

The Chris Jaume’s Cooper King Distillery holds its own as a completely self-built distillery. It also stands out with its environmental responsibility. It is 100% powered by renewable energy. It is the only distillery in Europe to join the “1% for the Planet” global initiative. It sends zero waste to landfills, and it is the first England distillery to achieve carbon-negativity in the production of gins.

Why English Whisky Rebounded

Like its rise to prominence in the 1800s, the modern resurgence of English whisky owes much to the treasury. Formerly, the HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) did not give licenses to distillers who do not have a 1,800 liter still. In the last decade, the HMRC has softened its stand, opening the door for more distillers.

You’ll find them all, from big distilleries to micro-distilleries, and even a self-styled “bristillery” that combines the arts of brewery and distillery. Also, English distillers are not shackled by traditions in whisky-making. Though the English distillers are inspired by these traditions, because of less-tight regulations in England, distillers have more room to experiment with ingredients and processes.

So many English whiskies are innovative wonders that combine traditional whisky-making practices with creative techniques employed in producing drinks like bourbon, cognac, and even beer. Because the climate adds to the characteristics of whiskies, geography plays an important role in distinguishing whiskies.

In comparison to neighboring Scotland, England is slightly warmer and drier. The conditions accelerate the maturation of whiskies in the casks and add unique characteristics to the drinks.

The Best English Whiskies To Try

Final Thoughts

Unlike Scotland, England is not associated with whiskies but they have an equally long history of producing single malts. English distillers were prominent after the first quarter of the 1800s, but a combination of events saw them close shop, and English whiskies entered a century-long sleep.

In 2003, English whiskies started their rise from their slumber. Distillers are opening up everywhere in the country and are producing very interesting and richly flavored whiskies. Not shackled by the traditions and stiff regulations in Scotland, English distillers have more freedom to experiment with processes and ingredients. English whiskies are now on the rise and show no signs of slowing down.