When it comes to whiskey made in the UK, Scotch is obviously the first thing that comes to mind for most people. But single malt whiskey is also being made exclusively in England, estimated at over a billion dollars with casks currently maturing there and an upcoming indication of the geographical indication for the category. One of the most famous English producers is the Cotswolds Distillery, which recently released a new whiskey with a royal prescription.
The Cotswolds Distillery is located in the eponymous Cotswolds, a region of western England known for its natural countryside. New York Dan Sessor founded the company in 2014 when he decided to leave his Wall Street finance days behind and turn to spirits — specifically making gin and single malt whiskey, the latter of which was first released in 2017. While there have been some setbacks for the angel whiskey industry at least for a few years, can they, will they, be followed? Barley follows the same principles but is made from 100 percent malted barley in copper vessels.
A Cotswolds distillery’s whiskey, which meets these guidelines, is anchored by a core single malt expression, the first to be distilled in the region. The signature single malt is made from locally grown barley, aged in STR (shaved, toasted, recharred) ex-red wine barrels, blended with whiskey that has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels, and bottled without any chill filtration and with a natural color. This new release is called Highgrove Evergreen, and like its predecessor it has some royal ties that make it stand out. It was culled from Plumage Archer barley, a varietal grown in the Highgrove estate where King Charles III has his private residence, making it a single estate whisky. Like the basic expression, it was aged in ex-bourbon and red wine barrels for at least three years.
“When I first bought Plumage Archer Joe from Highgrove Estate many years ago, I never imagined it would grow into a partnership of this scale.” “Highgrove Evergreen marks a significant milestone for our distillery and for the continued evolution of the English whiskey category. We look forward to sharing this release with the proud British public, and ultimately with international markets, particularly the United States as we set our sights on key regions for 2026.”
Proceeds from the sale of Highgrove Evergreen (SRP £100) will go to benefit the King Foundation and its education and training initiatives, and each bottle comes in a box with a reproduction of a 1995 painting of King Charles. A view from the wildflower meadow. While the whiskey hasn’t arrived here in the U.S. yet, you can find the basic expression of the Cotwolds available for purchase on websites like Total Wine.
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