English Whisky Gets a Boost from the U.K., and Scots Are Not Amused

Each of the United Kingdom’s four nations has its own capital and its own flag.And as of this week, each has its own official whiskey.Whiskey has long been the United Kingdom’s top food and drink export, raking in 5.5 billion pounds (about $7.26 billion) in 2025, with the overwhelming majority of it made in Scotland.

But over the past 20 years, dozens of distilleries to the south — that is, England — have opened, creating what they say is a new style of whiskey worthy of the same protections conferred on Scotch and its Irish and Welsh cousins.On Thursday, that new status went into effect: a designation, known as a “protected geographical indication,” by the kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, setting out specifications for how English single malt and grain whisky can be produced.(They spell it “whisky,” as Scotch and Welsh producers do.)Supporters say the recognition is long overdue for a spirit that has not been well known or defined.“If Scotch, Welsh and Irish have set out their standards, then that logical step is for the newly categoried English whisky — we’re 20 years into our making — also gets a geographical indication standard and can sit alongside the other three,” said Morag Garden, chief executive of the English Whisky Guild, which led the effort to formalize the rules.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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