The Cradle of England’s Whiskey Revival - The English Distillery

In 2006, James Nelstrop and his son Andrew established The English Distillery, becoming the starting point of modern England’s whiskey revival. At the time, there were no other registered whiskey distilleries in England, and this family-run distillery in Norfolk ignited the industry’s growth. Today, despite over 60 similar distilleries, The English Distillery distinguishes itself by adhering to traditional methods and locally sourced ingredients.

The distillery uses mineral water from the Breckland Aquifer and Norfolk-grown barley, with a slow fermentation process (around 104 hours) and copper pot stills crafted by Forsyths, producing new-make spirit with grain sweetness and fruity notes. Key features include - 90% of production energy from solar power, 94% groundwater recycling efficiency, and sustainable practices like repurposing spent grains as animal feed and fertilizer.

Currently, the distillery matures around 6,000 casks, primarily using American Jim Beam bourbon barrels, with strict tracking of each oak cask’s origin. In 2024, its sherry cask single malt whiskey won the title of ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards.

Recent commemorative releases include - Chapter 18, a blend of 10-18 year old spirits; Founders Private Cellar 18, fully matured in first-fill rum casks; and the historic ‘Cask 001’ - a 2006 distillation partially finished in sherry casks, bottled in hand-blown glass to symbolize England’s whiskey rebirth.

Now led by Andrew, the team upholds his father’s philosophy of ‘focusing on quality over marketing,’ rejecting speculative cask purchases and striving to create whiskey that truly represents England’s terroir.

2025-07-17

Source - https-//www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/the-english-distillery.aspx/