English whisky GI proposal provokes SWA criticism – Drinks International – The global choice for drinks buyers

The UK’s Division for Atmosphere, Food & Rural Affairs has today begun appointment on the proposal which would secure the names ‘English whisky’ and ‘English scotch’ a geographical indication under the UK government’s Spirit Drinks Geographical Indications System.

A speaker for the Scotch Whisky Association said: “The proposition to specify ‘Solitary Malt’ English Whisky just calls for distillation at the solitary distillery location and not the creation of the spirit from malted barley at a single site. This is entirely irregular with the online reputation of single malt whisky, which is popular for its integral connection to place, and would certainly undermine the Solitary Malt Scotch Whisky group.

“It would be very damaging for the credibility of solitary malt whisky from the UK, and by expansion Single Malt Scotch Whisky, if English Whiskies were permitted to explain spirit as ‘Solitary Malt’ in spite of being generated in a various manner to the recognized procedure and long-standing practices of the Scotch Whisky market.

The proposed product requirements sums up English whisky as a spirit “made from UK cereal grain and English water”, “distilled in England”, “distilled at an alcoholic strength of less than 94.8% by quantity as though the extract has a fragrance and taste derived from the materials used”, “developed in England in wood barrels, such as oak (yet not limited to), of no more than 700 litres for a minimum of 3 years”, and “the last whisky to have a minimal 40% abv”.