È stato rilasciato settimana scorsa il 6° aggiornamento della Mappa del Whisky Inglese. Sono oggi elencate ben 55 distillerie, un numero in crescita del 12% rispetto alle 49 del 2023 (40 nel 2022, 33 nel 2021, 24 nel 2020 e 14 nel 2016). Una crescita lenta ma costante, da quando James Nelstrop ha iniziato a distillare il whisky single malt della distilleria St George’s, nel 2006.
L’inizio delle attività, nel 2022, della English Whisky Guild (EWG) ha portato alla domanda del riconoscimento dell’English Whisky come UK Geographical Indication, una pratica ancora in corso che dovrebbe giungere a conclusione nei prossimi mesi. L’associazione prevede che entro la fine del 2024 venga superata per la prima volta nella storia la quantità di 50.000 botti di whisky in maturazione in Inghilterra, un traguardo storico con un valore stimato di oltre 1 miliardo di sterline.
La proposta per la definizione di English Whisky può essere così riassunta: un distillato prodotto con cereali e acqua del Regno Unito, distillato in Inghilterra da mosto creato e fermentato in Inghilterra, e maturato in Inghilterra in botti di legno, come quelle di quercia (ma non solo), di capacità non superiore a 700 litri e per un minimo di 3 anni. Il Malt English Whisky deve essere essere prodotto con 100% malto d’orzo e distillato in discontinuo (per un minimo di due volte) in un pot still di rame.
La storia dell’English Whisky è appena iniziata!
La English Whisky Map
La English Whisky Map è in crescita! Giunta alla sua 6a edizione, presenta una serie di distillerie con whisky maturi, distillerie che stanno accumulando botti e molte nuove distillerie in costruzione. Clicca qui per scaricare una versione a grandezza naturale della mappa del whisky.
La distilleria Cooper King ha creato la prima English Whisky Map nel 2016 per promuovere la fiorente scena del whisky inglese. È ormai diventata una tradizione aggiornare e presentare una nuova edizione della mappa ogni anno, in occasione del giorno di San Giorgio, patrono nazionale.
È un momento emozionante per l’industria inglese del whisky. In tutto il paese le distillerie stanno sperimentando una serie di cereali, ceppi di lievito e periodi di fermentazione. Variano anche il tipo e le dimensioni delle botti utilizzate per la maturazione e il tipo di alambicco utilizzato per produrre il new make.
Le distillerie inglesi di whisky
- Ad Gefrin Distillery
Location: Wooler / Established: 2022 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 3,500 litres - Durham Distillery
Location: Durham / Established: 2013 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2026 / Spirit still capacity: 1,000 litres - Yarm Distillery
Location: Yarm / Established: 2018 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2023 / Spirit still capacity: 500 litres - Yorkshire Dales Distillery
Location: Catterick Garrison / Established: 2016 / Status: Under construction
Whisky release date: 2027 / Spirit still capacity: 1,500 litres - Whittaker’s Distillery
Location: Harrogate / Established: 2015 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2024 / Spirit still capacity: 1,000 litres - Cooper King Distillery
Location: York / Established: 2016 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2023 / Spirit still capacity: 900 litres - Ellers Farm Distillery
Location: Stamford Bridge / Established: 2022 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2026 / Spirit still capacity: 2,500 litres - Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery
Location: Hunmanby / Established: 2016 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2019 / Spirit still capacity: 3,500 litres - Elsham Wold Distillery
Location: Elsham Wolds / Established: 2019 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2023 / Spirit still capacity: 600 litres - White Peak Distillery
Location: Ambergate / Established: 2016 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2021 / Spirit still capacity: 2,100 litres - Wharf Distillery
Location: Towcester / Established: 2011 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2019 / Spirit still capacity: 250 litres - The English Distillery
Location: Roudham / Established: 2006 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2009 / Spirit still capacity: 1,800 litres - Adnams Copper House Distillery
Location: Southwold / Established: 2010 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2013 / Spirit still capacity: 950 litres - Old Bakery Distillery
Location: Enfield, London / Established: 2017 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 400 litres - East London Liquor Co.
Location: Tower Hamlets, London / Established: 2014 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2018 / Spirit still capacity: 650 litres - Bimber Distillery
Location: North Acton, London / Established: 2015 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2019 / Spirit still capacity: 1,000 litres - Doghouse Distillery
Location: Battersea, London / Established: 2016 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 1,500 litres - Copper Rivet Distillery
Location: Chatham / Established: 2016 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2020 / Spirit still capacity: 2,600 litres - Maidstone Distillery
Location: Maidstone / Established: 2018 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2027 / Spirit still capacity: 450 litres - Canterbury Brewers & Distillers
Location: Canterbury / Established: 2018 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2023 / Spirit still capacity: 500 litres - Pleasant Land Distillery
Location: Aldington / Established: 2022 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 1,200 litres - Isle of Wight Distillery
Location: Ryde / Established: 2015 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 1,000 litres - Winchester Distillery
Location: Winchester / Established: 2014 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2025 / Spirit still capacity: 500 litres - Hawkridge Distillers
Location: Newbury / Established: 2018 / Status: Under construction
Whisky release date: 2027 / Spirit still capacity: 5,000 litres - Black Bottle Distillery
Location: Wallingford / Established: 2016 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2020 / Spirit still capacity: 350 litres - Abingdon Distillery
Location: Abingdon / Established: 2019 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2026 / Spirit still capacity: 650 litres - Wood Brothers Distillery
Location: Bampton / Established: 2017 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2028 / Spirit still capacity: 5,000 litres - Aedda’s Farm Distillery
Location: Adstock / Established: 2023 / Status: Under construction
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 1,750 litres - Ten Hides Distillery
Location: Devizes / Established: 2019 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2027 / Spirit still capacity: 300 litres - Wylye Distillery
Location: Wylye / Established: 2022 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 1,250 litres - Retribution Distilling Co
Location: Frome / Established: 2019 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2024 / Spirit still capacity: 400 litres - Witchmark Distillery
Location: Salisbury / Established: 2021 / Status: Under construction
Whisky release date: 2027 / Spirit still capacity: 3,200 litres - Dartmoor Whisky Distillery
Location: Bovey Tracey / Established: 2015 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2020 / Spirit still capacity: 1,400 litres - Princetown Distillery
Location: Princetown / Established: 2015 / Status: Under construction
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 13,500 litres - Trevethan Distillery
Location: Saltash / Established: 2015 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2026 / Spirit still capacity: 600 litres - Penrock Distillery
Location: Liskeard / Established: 2020 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 135 litres - Colwith Distillery
Location: Lanlivery / Established: 2016 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2026 / Spirit still capacity: 300 litres - Healeys Distillery
Location: Truro / Established: 2000 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2011 / Spirit still capacity: 1,200 litres - Pocketful of Stones
Location: Penzance / Established: 2016 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2022 / Spirit still capacity: 700 litres - Wrecking Coast Distillery
Location: Tintagel / Established: 2016 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: TBC / Spirit still capacity: 2,000 litres - Circumstance Distillery
Location: Bristol / Established: 2018 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2022 / Spirit still capacity: 1,800 litres - Cotswolds Distillery
Location: Stourton / Established: 2014 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2017 / Spirit still capacity: 1,600 litres - Spirit of Birmingham Distillery
Location: Birmingham / Established: 2020 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2024 / Spirit still capacity: 500 litres - West Midlands Distillery
Location: Rowley Regis / Established: 2017 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2025 / Spirit still capacity: 1,000 litres - Ludlow Distillery
Location: Craven Arms / Established: 2014 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2018 / Spirit still capacity: 200 litres - Henstone Distillery
Location: Welshpool / Established: 2017 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2021 / Spirit still capacity: 1,000 litres - Mercia Whisky
Location: Wolseley Bridge / Established: 2020 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2025 / Spirit still capacity: 5,000 litres - Weetwood Distillery
Location: Kelsall / Established: 2018 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2022 / Spirit still capacity: 400 litres - Forest Distillery
Location: Macclesfield / Established: 2014 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2022 / Spirit still capacity: 500 litres - Spirit of Manchester Distillery
Location: Manchester / Established: 2016 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2026 / Spirit still capacity: 750 litres - Forgan Distillery
Location: Banks / Established: 2017 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2024 / Spirit still capacity: 300 litres - Pendle Witch Distillery
Location: Waddington / Established: 2020 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2027 / Spirit still capacity: 1,200 litres - Lancaster Spirits Company
Location: Lancaster / Established: 2022 / Status: Laying down casks
Whisky release date: 2027 / Spirit still capacity: 500 litres - Bankhall Distillery
Location: Flookburgh / Established: 2020 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2023 / Spirit still capacity: 3,750 litres - The Lakes Distillery
Location: Setmurthy / Established: 2011 / Status: Whisky available
Whisky release date: 2018 / Spirit still capacity: 3,600 litres
