Is English Whisky any good?

For anyone not familiar with the world of English Whisky, "Is English Whisky any good?" is a question we regularly get from curious whisky drinkers looking to try new whiskies.

The short answer is "Yes, English Whisky is very good indeed!". But why is English Whisky so good?

1. End-to-End Production: The vast majority of English Whisky Distilleries are 'grain-to-glass' which means the distillery oversees the use of the grain through the entire process, often including the actual growing of the grains themselves (e.g. The Spirit of Yorkshire, Fielden)
   
   
2. Innovation and Experimentation: English Distillers have more freedom to innovate and experiment than their counterparts over the border in Scotland. For example, they are allowed to use other woods than just oak in which to age their whisky. Some (such as Circumstance Distillery) use unusual yeast strains to develop distinctive flavour profiles.
   
   
3. Award-Winning: English Whisky has won the accolade of The World's Best Single Malt Malt at the World Whiskies Awards twice in the last 3 years:

• • The Lakes Distillery Whiskymaker's Reserve No. 4 (2022)
  • The English Distillery Sherry Cask Matured (2024)
    

But across the board, English Whiskies are winning multiple awards.

The best way to experience the high quality of English Whisky is to try some! There is a variety of styles to suit every taste. Why not try it in a cocktail too... for example in a simple, but classic, highball:

In a glass filled with ice, mix one part whisky to three parts soda water, Indian tonic water or ginger ale. Garnish with an orange slice.

If you haven't yet explored the world of English Whisky, here are some good places to start:

• The Spirit of Yorkshire - Filey Bay Whisky
• Fielden, Whisky of England
• Circumstance Distillery
• The Lakes Distillery
• The English Distillery
• Award Winning English Whiskies