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Take Me To Wales

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On the trail of Welsh liquid gold

Posted: 27th August 2018 By Take Me To Wales

The English and Welsh Whisky Trail has been launched to celebrate the growth of a sector that lay dormant for more than a century.

It comes just weeks after Mid-Wales distillery Penderyn took six recent Gold awards from the 2018 World Whisky Masters then 2 Golds at the highly prestigious International Wines & Spirits Competition (IWSC). There are four Welsh distilleries.

English whisky dates back to at least the 17th Century, but dried up when the last producer closed their distillery doors back in the early 1900’s. The English whisky drought ended 100 years later when a Cornish distiller decided to revive the craft.

Inspired by the success of the London and Scotland Gin Trails as well as our English wine trail, our team have drawn up a map showing the rapid spread of whisky makers in England and Wales.

Miles Beale, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said, “The UK spirits industry is real success story. Britain now boasts 315 distilleries – more than double the number that were operating across the country five years ago.

“We can safely say the growing number of distilleries is no flash in the pan, as we have seen a wave of exciting new Welsh and English distillery projects.

The “ginnaisance” has attracted a whole new audience of people keen to try new spirit experiences meaning investors have been more willing to invest in craft distilleries allowing an English and Welsh whisky market to emerge.

It is fantastic to see a growing number of English and Welsh distillers now creating quality, award winning whiskies as well as gins and increasing their sales both home and abroad. In addition to bringing investment and jobs to the UK’s towns and the countryside it also helps to boost tourism and promotes the British food and drink brand around the world.”

The WSTA English and Welsh Whisky Trail hopes to inspire consumers to learn more about our fantastic homegrown drinks industry and bring a boost to the UK’s drinks tourism.

Each stop on the map gives details of the whisky makers and which ones are open to the public for tours and at the same encouraging tourists to explore the stunning English and Welsh countryside.

England and Wales, unlike Scotland or Ireland, are not renowned for whisky production. In the late 19th century, however, there were at least four whisky distilleries in operation – Lea Valley Distillery in London, Bristol Distillery, and Bank Hall and Vauxhall distilleries, both in Liverpool.

In around 1905, the last of these distilleries still in operation, Lea Valley Distillery, closed its doors.  The success of Scotch north of the border saw larger companies focus their attention on Scottish whisky, mothballing distilleries in England and moving production to Scotland. Production of single malt whisky in England ceased until 2003.

Today, there are at least 19 distilleries across England and Wales producing whisky.

In England, new-make spirit must be matured for a minimum of three years in wooden casks before it can legally be called ‘whisky’, and so the process does take some time.

Both Scottish and English whisky production is governed by EU regulations, although Scotland has an additional, much tighter layer of control – the Scotch Whisky Regulations.

This allows whisky producers in England great freedom to innovate – whilst some favour traditional Forsyths stills used in Scotch production, some distilleries are turning to different stills, and when paired with an assortment of grains and casks, the revitalised English whisky sector has the potential to create new, unique and exciting whiskies.

To download a copy of the English and Welsh Whisky Trail click here.

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Tags: Penderyn, Penderyn Whisky, Welsh Whisky, whisky trail, WSTA

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