English Whisky has today been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), making "English Whisky" and "English Whiskey" legally protected names under the UK Spirit Drinks Geographical Indications Scheme.

The decision means that all four nations of the United Kingdom now have equivalent legal protection for their national whisky, alongside Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Welsh Whisky and Irish Whiskey. It closes a long-standing gap in UK GI policy and gives England’s fast-growing whisky sector a legal foundation on which to build at home and in export markets.

The GI is the result of more than six years of work by the English Whisky Guild, the trade body representing English whisky producers, in close consultation with DEFRA and its member distilleries. The application was submitted in February 2022, published for opposition in February 2025, and refined through a formal consultation period before final approval.

Under the approved specification, English Whisky must be made from UK cereal grain and English water; distilled in England from wort created in England, at less than 94.8% ABV; matured in England for a minimum of three years in wooden casks of no more than 700 litres; and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV. Plain caramel (E150a) is the only permitted additive and only for colour.

“This is a defining moment for English Whisky. As a founder and now Chair of the English Whisky Guild, I am immensely proud to see our category formally recognised with its own Geographical Indication. It gives English Whisky a clear and protected identity, celebrates the quality and provenance behind what we produce, and sends a powerful signal to consumers and markets around the world.”  Dan Szor, Chair, English Whisky Guild

"Securing GI status is a landmark achievement for English Whisky and recognition of the quality and innovation across our growing industry. We are grateful to DEFRA and to everyone who contributed to this collaborative effort. This milestone will support future growth and international recognition for English Whisky"  Morag Garden, Chief Executive, English Whisky Guild

“The English Whisky Guild would like to thank the DEFRA Spirits and GI Teams and of course the Minister of State, for all their support in getting the English Whisky Geographical Indication across the line. The approval of the English Whisky GI marks a new chapter for English Whisky, it recognises the huge steps that the English Whisky category has taken since 2003. “Our next challenge is to help all the English Whisky Makers transition to the GI and raise consumer awareness of our whisky produced.” Tagore Ramoutar, Vice-Chair English Whisky Guild, GI Lead

"The UK is home to world-class whisky production, from grain to glass. Standing proudly alongside Scotch, Welsh and Irish whiskies, this new protected status is recognition of English Whisky's distinctive character alongside the expert craftsmanship that goes into its production. It's a milestone that will be felt far beyond the distillery gates, bringing jobs, investment and pride to communities across the country."  Environment Secretary Rt Hon Dame Angela Eagle MP

What the GI delivers

The English Whisky GI provides:

Legal protection for the names "English Whisky" and "English Whiskey" under the UK Spirit Drinks GI Scheme, verified by HM Revenue and Customs.

Clarity for consumers at home and overseas about what English Whisky is and the standards it must meet.

Support for British agriculture, through a requirement that 100% of the cereal grain used must be grown in the United Kingdom.

Room to innovate, with the specification accommodating modern still designs, non-oak wooden casks (declared on the label) and collaboration with local breweries on mashing and fermentation.

Sustainability provisions, allowing matured English Whisky to be shipped in inert bulk containers for bottling in destination markets, subject to controls.

A distinctive category, not a copy

The English Whisky GI is deliberately rooted in the character of the English sector, rather than modelled on the Scotch, Welsh or Irish frameworks. It recognises English Whisky as a contemporary "New World" style, shaped by England’s mild maritime climate, local water and small-batch production, and championed by individual distilleries and their modern plant.

Points of difference from other UK whisky GIs include the 100% UK-grown grain requirement (unique to English Whisky), the ability to mature in wooden casks other than oak, explicit accommodation of modern still designs, and flexibility for distilleries to collaborate with local breweries on mashing and fermentation — a practice rooted in the category’s modern history, when Hicks and Healey used wort from St Austell Brewery to lay down England’s first modern whisky in 2003.

The sector today

English Whisky is one of the fastest-growing categories in UK spirits. By the end of 2023 at least 46 distilleries were laying down English Whisky; today there are more than 70, with over 40 already selling English Whiskies to consumers and exports reaching more than 32 countries, including Canada, the United States, mainland Europe, Japan and China.

English distilleries have also won major international honours in recent years, notably, The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No. 4 and The English Distillery’s Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Whisky were named World’s Best Single Malt Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards in 2022 and 2024 respectively; multiple English distilleries hold the highest international honours.

Next steps

The GI is voluntary and applies only to producers that choose to describe their whisky as English Whisky. The Guild will now focus on communicating what the new protection represents to consumers, supporting members through the transition and continuing constructive engagement with all stakeholders.

For more details on the new guidance, read the full announcement on gov.uk.