From distilleries dotted along the coast and across the countryside to those in the heart of London, more than 60 producers are now laying down whisky in England. English whisky is both young and fast evolving, shaped by a more flexible approach to production than many of its global counterparts. This freedom has resulted in a diverse category – from traditional single malts to spicy ryes and lightly peated expressions, offering much to love and discover.

Returning for its second year, English Whisky Week  (18th – 26th April 2026) is a chance to celebrate drams a little closer to home, and The Whisky Exchange has selected a line-up of whiskies that reflect the breadth and individuality of this growing category.

1. White Peak Wire Works Bourbon Barrel 

What: Founded in 2016 by Max and Claire Vaughan, White Peak Distillery is set within a former wire factory in Derbyshire’s Peak District.  From here comes Wire Works Bourbon Barrel, a single malt shaped by long fermentation and a flavour-led approach to distilling.

Crowned The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky of the Year 2026, this expression was matured exclusively in premium ex-bourbon barrels sourced from Heaven Hill. This cask type allows for the distillery’s distinct spirit character to shine through. The result is a vibrant profile with notes of vanilla, cheesecake, white chocolate, lemon curd, candied ginger and peaches.

Price: £54.50, 53.4%

2. Cotswolds Signature Single Malt 

What: Released in October 2019, Cotswolds Signature was the first ongoing whisky release from the first distillery to be built in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds countryside. Crafted using locally grown and traditionally floor-malted Cotswold barley, it is matured in a combination of STR ex-red wine and ex-bourbon casks. This sweet and fruit-forward English single malt, part of the distillery’s Classics Collection, delivers notes of honey, Seville orange, marmalade and dark red fruits that linger on the finish.

Price: £49.95, 46% ABV

3. Filey Bay Flagship Single Malt English Whisky

What: Filey Bay is the first single malt whisky made entirely in Yorkshire, from field to bottle. With the curve of the bay visible from the distillery window, and its name a tribute to the local coastline, Filey Bay keeps where it’s from at the centre of what it does. The Filey Bay Flagship is a Yorkshire single malt matured in bourbon casks, and is light, creamy and fruity with notes of vanilla, peppery spice, apples, citrus zest and honey.

Price: £55.75, 46% ABV

4. East London Liquor Co Single Rye Whisky

What: From its home in London’s East End, East London Liquor Co produces whiskies that balance bold character with a sense of place. Bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky Show 2023, this single rye English whisky was fermented using Belgian saison beer yeast and matured in first-fill oloroso casks. The nose opens with oatmeal raisin cookies, dried cherries and red liquorice, followed by intense cereal notes. On the palate, treacle toffee and raw sugarcane lead into dark chocolate, espresso, roasted nuts and umeboshi plums. The finish is long and malty, with lingering notes of chocolate-dipped coffee beans.

Price: £79.95, 62.1% ABV

5. The Heart Cut x Barley English Blended Malt Whisky

What: Named The Whisky Exchange’s Producer of the Year, The Heart Cut is an award-winning independent bottler known for spotlighting whiskies from both emerging distilleries and established names around the world. The Heart Cut Barley blends single malts from five English distilleries (Copper Rivet, The English, Cotswolds, White Peak, and Adnams), forming the first release in a core range of small batch bottlings. The result is a generous, richly flavoured whisky with notes of strawberry jam, vanilla cream, cinnamon buns, fresh raspberries and orange blossom – a celebration of English whisky and the grains that define it.

Price: £44.95,  46% ABV