Scottish whisky makers furious over revival of English distilleries amid fears of undermining Scotch

However, Scottish whisky producers argued it undermines the definition of single malt.

The Scottish Whisky Association (SWA) said its members were “profoundly concerned” that the award of GI status to English single malt would undermine the global reputation of Scotch.

Scotch requires mashing, fermenting and distillation to occur on site at the same distillery.

However, for the English variety, it is only distillation that has to happen at a single site, meaning producers can source malted barley from an external, certified malting house provided the other steps all occur in England.

The SWA has suggested its Welsh and Irish counterparts support its condemnation of English whisky’s GI status, reports The Times.

Welsh whisky secured GI status in 2023, and, like English whisky, it requires only distillation to take place at a single site, and mashing and fermentation are permitted to be carried out elsewhere in Wales.

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An SWA spokesman said its members were “profoundly concerned” over the awarding of the GI status to England.

The spokesman said: “We do not oppose the principle of an English whisky GI and indeed have helped in its initial drafting.

“But the text as approved undermines the established definition of single malt, creates confusion for consumers and jeopardises the category which the Scotch whisky industry established and built the reputation of around the world.

“Over 90 per cent of single malt worldwide, and over 95 per cent of single malt produced in the UK, is Scotch.”

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In response, Tagore Ramoutar, a board member of the English Whisky Guild (EWG), said the SWA could only challenge the protected status by proving it would damage the industry.

He said: “English whisky has no such impact and is not branded as Scotch.”

Andrew Nelstrop, owner of the English Distillery in Norfolk, told The Telegraph: “Suggesting that Wales are with them in their stance is odd given the vast majority of maturing Welsh whisky was made using wort from a brewery separate from the distillery and so follows our rules, not those of Scotch.

“Any suggestion that English whisky in some ways may be inferior due to these rules is of course nonsense.

“English whisky, having won world’s best single malt three times in the last four years, paints a fairly accurate picture of who is perceived to be making a quality product.”

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Environment, food and rural affairs minister Stephen Morgan faced criticism from MPs over the definition of English whisky, with some arguing it dilutes Scotch whisky’s brand value.

In the Commons, North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain said this “risks disadvantaging Scotch producers who have invested heavily to comply with the traditional single-site production model”.

The Liberal Democrat, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Scotch Whisky, added: “Scotch whisky is also one of the UK’s most important export industries, supporting jobs, investment, tourism, and economic growth across rural communities.

“Weakening an internationally recognised definition risks damaging consumer confidence and diluting brand value at a time when the Scotch whisky industry is not in the root health.”

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Mr Morgan replied: “Scotch whisky’s protected status, reputation, and production requirements are unchanged, and the English definition of single malt has no impact on how single malt is made in Scotland.

“The Government remains committed to supporting the success of the Scotch whisky industry and the wider UK whisky sector.”

During the urgent question session, he later added: “It’s not a binary choice.

“You can support English whisky and support Scottish whisky, and I think it’s worth stressing we are supporting the growth of the whisky industry.”