IN BRITAIN, whisky has strong associations with Scotland. So much so in fact that in the 19th century the word ‘Scotch’ came to mean whisky not only in neighbouring England but all over the British Empire. But that hegemony has begun to shift in the last 15 years. In 2006 there was only one whisky distillery in England. Now there are more than 30.
England will never produce the big single malt guns like Laphroaig and Tallisker nor the internationally-famous Scottish blends like Johnny Walker and Famous Grouse but these days there are some wonderful artisanal distillers producing great idiosyncratic whiskies throughout England. These small distilleries have been set up all over the country, in Yorkshire and the Lake District, on the Suffolk and Norfolk coasts, and of course in London. Each pursues its own vision, sometimes even to the point of eccentricity, but all of them are producing great whiskies in small batches – and best of all you can visit and share in their enthusiasm.
