The best single malt whiskey in the world is an English one. Better than Scotland’s finest!
The English Distillery in Norfolk became the first operating whisky distillery for more than 100 Years.
The barley is grown locally, the distillation takes place in a pair traditional copper stills and the oak casks are aged on site.
Breckland bottles its own beer by hand The English Sherry Cask is an unpeated single malt whisky, which has been matured from start to finish in the finest PX sherry casks to create a stunning expression that it said had been “well worth the wait”.
The distillery’s world-winning achievement was announced in front of the Whisky industry’s finest at Merchant Taylors’ Hall as awards organizer, Whisky Magazine, celebrated “the best people, places, and products in the whisky world”.
Founded by Lincolnshire farmer James Nelstrop to fulfill a lifelong dream, the distillery – guided by the experience of legendary Master Distiller Ian Henderson – began to lay down whiskies in its dunnage warehouses, with the sole aim of making world-class single malt whisky in England following a century’s absence of whisky making in the country.
The winning whisky, like all of its whiskies was produced using barley that was grown locally on the Nelstrop farm. All the steps of distillation, including milling, mashing and distilling using two traditional copper stills are done at the distillery. James’ son Andrew, has led the 20-strong team since his father died in 2014.
Andrew said: “We’re stunned. Whilst any whisky maker hopes to win an award, winning the big one is the realization of my father’s sole goal of creating world-class single malt whiskies in England, and sharing them with whisky lovers around the world.”
The father of two, whose wife Katy works alongside him as The English Distillery’s Marketing Director, added: “This is a super way to celebrate our 18th year of whisky distilling. It’s a testament to our distillers’ work and I know my father would have been hugely proud of this achievement, as are we.”
As the English Whisky category continues to grow with pace, this award is another milestone for whisky making in England, particularly when it’s judged against some of the finest single malt whiskies from around the world, including Scotland.
The winning whisky has aromas of dark fruits, derived from sherry casks. These combine with vanilla and honey, and lead to sweet toffees, cherries and digestives. The result is an incredibly rich and balanced whisky. The wood is outshone.
Bottled at 46% abv, non-chill filtered and natural in color, The English Sherry Cask is a no-age-statement whisky that is part of the distillery’s core range, which includes The English Original and The English Smokey (both RRP £47.50, 70cl bottle). House of Malt describes the winning whisky as a “delightful newcomer to The English Distillery’s core range with a luxuriously thick sherry character, brimming with flavors of crumbly biscuits, smooth vanilla caramel, simmered berries, and sun-dried figs”.
The English Distillery is England’s oldest registered whisky distillery. In 1901, the last known English distillery switched from producing whisky to gin before it was destroyed by a fire. The English Whisky Co. Ltd. was given a license by HMRC to distill whisky in 1902. This marked the end of English whisky distilleries. Ir was reopened by HMRC in 2006.
No longer does good barley have to travel all the way up to Scotland to be used in premium whisky.
You can buy from House of Malt, English WhiskyThe world’s leading global retailers, including Bottle Adorable, The Spirit Specialist. The Whisky World.