The rebirth of English whisky: should you invest?

Raise your glass to a national success story – English whisky

Pouring whiskey from bottle into glass on wooden barrel against black background
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It’s time to raise your glass to the newest whisky nation in town – England. English whisky has come a long way since the turn of the millennium. There are at least 55 distilleries from the northeast to the southwest that have laid down spirit (ie, begun the process of ageing grain spirit in casks), with the first bottlings already picking up awards. English whiskies from The English Distillery and The Lakes Distillery have been named the “World’s Best Single Malt” in two of the past three years, while whiskies from England have also picked up awards in the World Whisky Masters, hosted by The Spirits Business magazine. 

Whisky has been made in England since at least 1636, when the Worshipful Company of Distillers was granted a charter for producing the spirit. By the 1800s, there were distilleries in Liverpool, Bristol, London and elsewhere. But gradually the craft died out. The last English whisky distillery, in the Lea Valley, near Stratford, switched to making gin in 1905. 

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up
Chris Carter
Wealth Editor, MoneyWeek

Chris Carter spent three glorious years reading English literature on the beautiful Welsh coast at Aberystwyth University. Graduating in 2005, he left for the University of York to specialise in Renaissance literature for his MA, before returning to his native Twickenham, in southwest London. He joined a Richmond-based recruitment company, where he worked with several clients, including the Queen’s bank, Coutts, as well as the super luxury, Dorchester-owned Coworth Park country house hotel, near Ascot in Berkshire.

Then, in 2011, Chris joined MoneyWeek. Initially working as part of the website production team, Chris soon rose to the lofty heights of wealth editor, overseeing MoneyWeek’s Spending It lifestyle section. Chris travels the globe in pursuit of his work, soaking up the local culture and sampling the very finest in cuisine, hotels and resorts for the magazine’s discerning readership. He also enjoys writing his fortnightly page on collectables, delving into the fascinating world of auctions and art, classic cars, coins, watches, wine and whisky investing.

You can follow Chris on Instagram.