English Spirit

The English spirits industry, though historically linked to the classic juniper-infused Gin, has expanded significantly, embracing new styles, adopting varied raw materials, and exploring eclectic flavours. The categories of new make spirit, rum, rye, white dog, and other spirits have not only broadened England's distillation repertoire but also showcased its ability to innovate and defy expectations.

New Make Spirit

New make spirit or unaged whisky is a clear, high-proof distillate that hasn't been subjected to the ageing process in oak casks that bring colour and flavour to spirits like Single Malt Whisky. The spirit has the raw flavours of its original grains, such as barley, wheat, or corn, offering a robust and somewhat brash palate. New make spirit provides a transparent window into the fundamental characteristics that would otherwise evolve and mellow within the cask over the years. It is bold, revealing, and speaks volumes of the quality and character of what will eventually become whisky if aged.

English Rum

Though lush sugarcane fields are not a feature of the English landscape, the country has embraced rum production with zeal. English rum often involves importing molasses or sugarcane juice from traditional rum-producing regions. The fermentation, distillation, and ageing (when applicable) occur on English soil, often incorporating the innovative spirit of English distillers. England has seen a surge in craft rum distilleries, like the English Spirit Distillery and the Duppy Share, which explore varied ageing, flavouring, and blending techniques to carve out their unique space in the global rum sphere.

Rye Spirits

Rye, with its spicy and robust flavour profile, has found a home in English distillation. Notably less sweet than its corn-based counterpart, rye spirit often introduces a spiciness, fruitiness, and a certain robustness, appreciated in both unaged and aged forms. The Oxford Artisan Distillery and the English Whisky Company have exemplified the versatility and depth of rye through their spirits, which range from unaged variants to those matured in varied oak casks, showcasing rye’s rich, spicy, and vivacious character.

White Dog

White dog, essentially unaged bourbon, offers a powerful and uninhibited taste of the grain mash it is derived from, typically a majority corn base. It’s a spirit that offers up potency and unbridled grain character. White dog can be used in cocktails, providing a robust, grain-forward base, or enjoyed neat for those who seek a raw, unaged spirit experience. In England, distillers experiment with the fermentation and distillation processes, modifying variables to explore how these shifts influence the final character of this untamed spirit.

Flavoured Spirits

The creation of flavoured spirits has opened a veritable Pandora’s box of possibilities within the English spirits industry. Flavoured vodkas, spiced rums, and liqueurs infused with a plethora of botanicals, fruits, and spices have become immensely popular. Brands like Pimm’s, with their fruit cups, and Aperol, with its Italian roots yet deeply entrenched in English drinking culture, have established themselves as staples in the world of flavoured spirits. This category bends to the creative will of the distiller, exploring infusions ranging from the classic – like lemon and orange – to the exotic and unexpected, such as chilli, chocolate, and myriad botanicals.

The spirit of English distillation, explorative and unbounded, perpetually seeks out avenues less trodden. From the robust and grain-forward character of new make spirits and white dog, the spicy allure of rye, the sweet, tropical embrace of rum, to the boundless realm of flavoured spirits, England continues to forge ahead, unearthing new chapters in its spirited tale, and inviting the world to join in its libational adventure. The innovation embedded within these spirit categories not only pays homage to the rich tapestry of global spirits but also crafts a distinctly English narrative, which, while respectful of tradition, gazes unwaveringly toward the future.