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If you really want to understand what makes English whisky different, start with the people and places behind it.
Across the country, from the rugged moors of Northumberland to the coastal breeze of Cornwall, more than forty distilleries are now producing whisky that reflects the land around them. Some, like The English Whisky Company and Cotswolds Distillery, have become modern icons. Others — such as Ad Gefrin, Fielden, and The Cheshire — are new voices adding fresh character to the scene.
For a deeper look at how this new generation of distillers is reshaping tradition, read our guide: What Makes English Whisky Different? A Guide for New Whisky Lovers.
Each distillery in this list has its own approach — from field-to-bottle single malt to bold rye and experimental cask releases. Together, they form the backbone of England’s whisky identity: curious, creative, and unmistakably full of spirit.
English Whisky Distilleries: Key Facts & Highlights
| Distillery | Location | Founded | Fact / Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad Gefrin Distillery | Northumberland | 2023 | North England’s northernmost distillery; honours Anglo-Saxon heritage and local barley. |
| Adnams Distillery | Southwold, Suffolk | 2010 | Also a brewery; produces Triple Malt Whisky from barley, rye, and wheat. |
| Anchor Distillery (Exmoor) | Somerset | 2020 | Focuses on terroir and spring water purity; limited runs per year. |
| Bankhall Distillery | Blackpool, Lancashire | 2018 | Owned by Halewood; inspired by American bourbon traditions using UK-grown grain. |
| Bimber Distillery | London | 2015 | Renowned for hand-crafted single malt whisky aged in ex-bourbon casks. |
| Burning Barn Distillery | Warwickshire | 2019 | Known for experimenting with rum casks and smoked barley finishes. |
| Circumstance Distillery | Bristol | 2018 | Produces small, experimental batches using mixed mash bills and unique yeasts. |
| Copper Rivet Distillery | Kent | 2016 | Makers of Masthouse Whisky, crafted from 100% locally sourced grains. |
| Cooper King Distillery | Yorkshire | 2016 | England’s first carbon-negative whisky distillery; powered by renewables. |
| Cotswolds Distillery | Warwickshire | 2014 | Uses 100% local barley; produces ~200,000 litres annually of rich single malt whisky. |
| Dartmoor Whisky Distillery | Devon | 2014 | Distils single malt in a repurposed French cognac still; limited releases. |
| East London Liquor Company | London | 2014 | Urban craft distillery making bold single malt and rye whiskies. |
| Ellers Farm Distillery | York | 2021 | Sustainable distillery powered by renewables; grows its own barley. |
| Fielden Whisky | Leicestershire | 2021 | Crafts rye whisky from heritage grains using regenerative farming. |
| Gulliver’s Distillery (Samuel Gulliver & Co.) | Essex | 2018 | Revives an 18th-century brand; No.6 Single Malt aged in bourbon and sherry casks. |
| Hell’s Stone (SW Distillery) | Cornwall | 2020 | Produced by Southwestern Distillery; a smoky single malt named after local folklore. |
| Henstone Distillery | Shropshire | 2017 | Crafts whiskies aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks with fruit-forward character. |
| Hensol Castle Distillery | South East England | 2018 | Historic estate distilling whisky with a botanical and gin heritage twist. |
| Ludlow Distillery | Herefordshire | 2021 | Uses copper stills and triple distillation for smooth, light English spirit. |
| Rural Redemption Distillery | Norfolk | 2020 | Produces small-batch whisky using traditionally malted Norfolk barley. |
| Samuel Gulliver & Co. | Essex | 2018 | Blends and bottles award-winning English single malts inspired by historic recipes. |
| Shakespeare Distillery | Stratford-upon-Avon | 2015 | Crafts malt spirit inspired by Shakespeare’s era; whisky ageing in progress. |
| Shene Distillery (English) | Sussex | 2022 | New distillery focusing on high-barley single malts and sherry cask finishes. |
| Southwestern Distillery | Cornwall | 2013 | Makers of Tarquins gin; also produce Hell’s Stone single malt whisky. |
| Spirit of Birmingham | West Midlands | 2019 | Urban distillery producing single malts with local barley and long fermentations. |
| Spirit of Yorkshire (Filey Bay) | Yorkshire | 2016 | England’s first field-to-bottle distillery; producers of Filey Bay Single Malt Whisky. |
| The Cheshire Distillery | Cheshire | 2021 | Family-run producer creating small-batch single malt and grain whiskies. |
| The English Whisky Company (St George’s) | Norfolk | 2006 | The first legal English whisky distillery in 100+ years; revived English whisky making. |
| The Honeybourne Distillery | Worcestershire | 2022 | Focused on local grain and slow maturation in ex-sherry and Madeira casks. |
| The Lakes Distillery | Cumbria | 2011 | Famous for The Whiskymaker’s Reserve series; artistry in blending and wood. |
| The London Distillery Company | London | 2011 | One of the pioneers of modern English whisky; produced the London Rye. |
| The Oxford Artisan Distillery | Oxford | 2017 | Grows heritage grains; produces Oxford Rye Whisky from field to bottle. |
| The Peak District Distillery | Derbyshire | 2020 | Produces small-batch whisky using local spring water and mountain air. |
| The Wharf Distillery | Towcester | 2013 | Family-run microdistillery making single malt and experimental releases. |
| The Wharfside Distillery | Lincolnshire | 2021 | Crafts single malt using open-top fermentation and local malted barley. |
| The Wrecking Coast Distillery | Cornwall | 2015 | Known for gin; now producing coastal-influenced single malt whisky. |
| Treguddick Distillery (Healey’s Cornish) | Cornwall | 2020 | Makers of Hicks & Healey Cornish Whisky; pioneers of the Cornish whisky scene. |
| Whittaker’s Distillery | Harrogate, North Yorkshire | 2020 | Family-run distillery known for gin; now producing small-batch single malt whisky. |
| White Peak Distillery | Derbyshire | 2016 | Built in a restored wire works; producer of Wire Works Whisky. |
| Wicked Wolf Distillery | Devon | 2022 | Expanding from gin to single malt whisky using ex-bourbon and port casks. |
| Woven Experience | Leeds | 2020 | Creates collaborative blends showcasing English whisky diversity. |
| Yarm Distillery | Stockton-on-Tees | 2023 | Craft producer creating small-batch single malt whisky inspired by the Tees Valley. |
Reading through this list, one thing becomes clear — English whisky is no longer a curiosity; it’s a movement with real momentum. From The Lakes Distillery’s sherried single malts to White Peak’s Wire Works, every distillery tells part of a much bigger story: how England reclaimed its place in the world of whisky.
This growth didn’t happen overnight. It’s part of a wider shift that’s been years in the making — a story we explore in The Rise of English Whisky: A New Chapter in Distilling — where tradition meets innovation, and new names stand proudly alongside the greats.
Together, these makers and their whiskies prove one thing: England isn’t following in anyone’s footsteps. It’s carving its own path, one single malt at a time.
Struggling what to try first, check out our guide to the best English whiskies to try.
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