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The English Distillery Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead Review

Can an English single malt truly rival Islay and Campbeltown peat? This award-winning sherry hogshead proves it—with smoke, fruit, and depth.

OVERALL RATING

9
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Tasting Notes

About:

Founded in 2006, The English Distillery has played a key role in the development of modern English whisky, with production taking place on site in Norfolk. This recognition further positions the distillery as a leading producer within The English whisky category, a consistent performer on the global stage.

The English Distillery has been awarded World’s Best Single Malt – Small Batch, at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. This marks its second global title in three years, following its 2024 World’s Best Single Malt win for its Sherry Cask expression. The win, awarded for The English Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead, reinforces the distillery’s growing reputation for consistency and quality. Matured in high-quality sherry hogshead casks, the whisky showcases a balanced integration of gentle peat influence with a rich, sherry-led character – bottled at 46% ABV.
Appearance:
Oloroso Sherry
Nose:
Toasted brown sugar, gentle/ashy peat smoke that doesn’t come across as medicinal, more dying BBQ. Sweet red fruits: strawberry, raspberry and some cherries in syrup. Dark chocolate, dried cherries, red grapes,
Palate:
A soft, sweet peat start. Everything is really mellow with little temptations of peat smoke, red fruits, dark chocolate, strawberry syrup, cherry syrup, beach bonfires, grilled ham, carbolic soap, lemon rind, orange pith, peat smoke that becomes drier and more intense the longer you leave it on the palate.
Finish:
Sightly more medicinal smoke on the finish, but it feels low and slow. BBQ pineapple, green apples. Hot, smoked apple pie covered in sherry and vanilla ice cream, sooty and ashy – very reminiscent of Springbank or Benromach levels of smoke, it’s there and it’s doing a very good job, but it’s quite subtle.
Comments:
I can totally see why this would win a big award! It’s got everything going on that you’d look for in a great peated single malt, no matter where the country of origin is. If you’re into Islay, Campbeltown or Talisker, Torabhaig, etc – this is certainly something you should be looking at. Not just because it won an award, but because the English Whisky Distillery has been at the forefront of great English single malts for quite a while now. Whether you want peat, shery, both, triple distillation, they do it all and are very good at it.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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