A "whisky war" has erupted after English single malts were granted protected geographical indication (PGI) status, leading to strong objections from the Scotch whisky industry. The Scottish Whisky Association (SWA), representing over 90 companies including major brands like Johnnie Walker and Diageo, has expressed profound concern. Their primary contention is that English whisky has been awarded protected status under different, less stringent rules than those governing Scotch single malts. While English single malt must be made on a single site, it can use malted barley from various locations. In contrast, Scotch single malt requires production in one location using barley from the same site.
Mark Kent, chief executive of the SWA, stated that these new rules are "entirely inconsistent with the reputation of single malt whisky" and put "established practice and long-standing industry traditions" at risk. He argued that the definition of single malt for English whiskies "undermines" that of Scotch single malts and could be misleading for consumers. The SWA is considering retaliation and plans to meet with ministers to discuss their concerns. They noted that over 90% of single malt worldwide, and over 95% in the UK, is Scotch, and any weakening of its definition could jeopardize the category's integrity.
The English whisky sector, which has grown to over 70 distilleries from 46 in 2023, is now estimated to be worth around £1 billion, exporting to more than 30 countries. High-profile figures like Richard Hammond and Guy Ritchie are involved in new English brands. English Whisky Guild representative Tagore Ramoutar defended the new status, asserting that any challenge from the SWA would need to prove damage to reputation or economic impact, which he believes is unfounded as English whisky is not branded as "Scotch." Andrew Nelstrop, owner of The English Distillery, dismissed the SWA's response as "baseless," citing that English whisky has won "world's best single malt" three times in the last four years, indicating its quality. Kevin Hollinrake, an MP whose constituency includes English distilleries, emphasized that there is room for both sectors and that consumers, not lawyers, should decide what they drink.
Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Scotch Whisky, voiced concerns that the English definition risks disadvantaging Scotch producers who have invested heavily to comply with traditional single-site production. She warned that weakening an internationally recognized definition could damage consumer confidence and dilute brand value, especially as the Scotch whisky industry, which contributes over £5 billion annually to the Scottish economy, is not as robust as the government might believe. Despite these concerns, Defra minister Stephen Morgan insisted that the decision would not change how Scotch is protected and that the English definition has no impact on Scotch production requirements.
