English single malt

English single malt is a single malt whisky produced in England and distilled at a single distillery.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-20 |title=Plans to 'legally define' English whisky would 'sabotage' Scotch single malt whisky's reputation |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/plans-to-legally-define-english-whisky-would-be-very-damaging-for-scotch-whiskys-reputation-4999750 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}}

File:Single Malt (41136477084).jpgThere are 5 English single malt brands including Cotswolds, Foundry, Lakes, The English and Wire Works{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=Beth |date=2025-03-24 |title=The Best English Single Malt Whisky According To The World Whiskies Awards ROW 2025 |url=https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/world/the-best-english-single-malt-whisky-according-to-the-world-whiskies-awards-row-2025/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=The Whiskey Wash |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=Beth |date=2024-11-22 |title=The Best English Whisky According To The World Whiskies Awards 2024 |url=https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/world/the-best-english-whisky-according-to-the-world-whiskies-awards-2024/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=The Whiskey Wash |language=en-US}}

There are currently 60 distilleries producing English whisky with a bulk of the production being English single malt.{{Cite web |last=Barton |first=Susannah Skiver |date=2025-04-10 |title=If England’s Whisky Industry Is Thriving, Why Is It Still Struggling to Gain Recognition in the U.S.? |url=https://vinepair.com/articles/england-whisky-industry-struggles-in-usa/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=VinePair |language=en-US}} The highest priced bottle of English single malt to be sold at auction is Wire Works from the White Peaks Distillery which sold for £15,000 (US$17,238).{{Cite web |last=Brooker |first=Alice |date=2022-09-08 |title=White Peak breaks record at auction |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2022/09/white-peak-breaks-record-at-auction/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}}

History

English single malt was first produced in England in 1636 with the establishment of the Worshipful Company of Distillers.{{Cite web |last=Features |first=Chris Carter published in |date=2024-08-28 |title=The rebirth of English whisky: should you invest? |url=https://moneyweek.com/investments/alternative-investments/the-rebirth-of-english-whisky |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Moneyweek |language=en}}

English single malt production ceased in 1900’s, though it was later revived in 2006 by the English Whisky Distillery.{{Cite book |last=Zondervan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jR-jDwAAQBAJ&dq=English+single+malt+production+in+England&pg=PA191 |title=The New Single Malt Whiskey: More Than 325 Bottles, From 197 Distilleries, in More Than 25 Countries |date=2016-10-25 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-60433-647-4 |language=en}}

In 2022 the English Whisky Guild submitted a geographical indication to legally define and protect the term English single malt.{{Cite web |title=English whisky makes its mark — Drinksbiz Magazine — New Zealand's Premier Drinks Magazine |url=https://www.drinksbiz.co.nz/news/sf8axvxmmzgfpgxwwfueon6ja7v2fx-c6thw-mklzg-ejga7-6877r-2cjac-386kc-c6fn4-52zwl-pfzax-xh5yp-ryxk4-gwl5d-2d4w4-hfp9t |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Drinksbiz Magazine |language=en-NZ}}

Definition

Currently English single malt is defined by EU Regulation (2019/787){{Cite web |last=Carruthers |first=Nicola |date=2025-04-08 |title=War of words: the English whisky GI debate |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/04/war-of-words-the-english-whisky-gi-debate/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}} and the British Standards Institute guidance (BS 8636){{Cite web |title=New 'guidelines' for UK whisky announced |url=https://whiskymag.com/articles/new-guidelines-for-uk-whisky-announced/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=whiskymag.com |language=en}}

= GI Application =

To be defined as a English single malt a whisky must be:

made with cereal grain from the U.K
made using English water
made with malted barley
distilled in England at a single distillery
batch distilled in copper pots
distilled to strength of less than 94.8% abv
matured in England in wooden casks{{Efn|There is no specific wood type specified.}}
bottled at a minimum of 40% abv{{Cite web |title=World Whisky & more: issue 7 |url=https://74eb0705.flowpaper.com/wwmissueseven/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=74eb0705.flowpaper.com}}

If the application is successful this will become the legal definition for English single malt.{{Cite web |title=English whisky GI application is 'damaging' to single malt, claims SWA |url=https://whiskymag.com/articles/english-whisky-gi-application-is-damaging-to-single-malt-claims-swa/ |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=whiskymag.com |language=en}}

Dispute

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.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=Scotch makers condemn English single malt whisky proposal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80yr1e4328o |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Carruthers |first=Nicola |date=2025-02-20 |title=SWA slams English whisky GI proposal |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/02/swa-slams-english-whisky-gi-proposal/ |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}}