We are living in an amazing and exciting time for whisky lovers. The whisky world seems to be getting bigger by the day, from the cult rise of Japanese whisky to the continued dominance of bourbon, Canadian and Irish drams. But amid all this global growth, I keep coming back to one question that hits closer to home. Should Scotch be watching its back?
For me, the answer increasingly lies with a category exploding right on my doorstep. English whisky is winning awards around the globe, and I want to explain why I believe it is the most thrilling development in the whole scene.
Let me be upfront. I am biased. This is my local region, so of course it is louder in my circle and more available on my shelves. But there is genuine substance behind the hype. What impresses me most is hearing people praise a whisky made maybe 100 miles from me while they sip it 10,000 miles away.
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It is remarkable to think that England, despite distilling as far back as the 18th century, largely turned its back on whisky in favour of gin, beer and wine. That heritage only truly reignited in 2006 with St. George’s Distillery, and we are now sitting at over 60 active distilleries as of 2025.
The names driving this movement deserve real recognition. Cotswolds remains one of my favourite distilleries not just in England but worldwide, and their Founder’s Cask, flying with chocolate oat cereal and bags of fruit, is simply good juice. White Peak and their Wire Works range have become the darlings of nerd circles, and their lightly peated releases are where their spirit really sings.
Not everything connects, of course. There are a few duds and a few brands piggybacking the hype, but the ambition is undeniable. Even distilleries like Retribution and Spirit of Birmingham, without official whisky yet, are earning genuine traction through passion and community.
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READ THE STORYSo does Scotch need to worry? Yes, but not because English whisky will topple it. The real threat is complacency. In a shaky market with shifting buying habits, no one can rest on their laurels. The better English whisky becomes, the better the entire whisky scene gets. Competition raises the bar for everyone, and that can only be a good thing for us drinkers.
Have you found much English whisky in your area? And are there other regions you feel are growing even faster? I would love to hear your thoughts.
To hear my full thoughts on the rise of English whisky, check out my YouTube video.
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