Virtual whisky festival to compare more than 30 English blends

English Whisky Festival A ‘taste at home’ online whisky festival will showcase more than 30 whiskies from 14 English distilleries.

The festival organisers say the Virtual English Whisky Festival is the first of its kind.

The event will take place on October 16-17.

The festival is dedicated to English whisky and will be hosted online due to Covid-19.

The festival will feature taste-at-home samples alongside panel discussions from leading lights in the English whisky industry.

The event, put on by the English Whisky Society, will include more than 30 samples from 14 English distilleries – including some new releases and festival exclusives.

Experts will also take part in five panel discussions exploring the secrets behind the explosion of English whisky-making in recent years.

From just one distillery in 2006, there are now 26 distilleries selling, producing or maturing whisky in England – from Cumbria in the North to Kent in the South, and Cornwall in the West to Norfolk in the East.

Many of these whiskies have won International awards and the level of craftsmanship and quality is garnering English whisky its own place outside of the “World Whiskies” category.

As a young scene, there is great variety of process, technique and taste, making this festival a rare opportunity to compare the current crop of English whiskies side-by-side, while at the same time hearing from the founders and distillers responsible for them.

Richard Foster, founder of the English Whisky Society, said: “English whisky-making distillers are making a name for themselves around the globe.

“We may not be able to gather in person, but the Virtual English Whisky Festival will be the first-of-its-kind celebration of the best English whisky has to offer.

“It is a chance for everyone to see why the booming English whisky industry has Scotch-lovers turning their attention south.”

Andrew Nelstrop, Founder of The English Whisky Company said: “When we built England’s first registered whisky distillery for more than a century, we could never have imagined that such a vibrant and expansive English whisky scene would emerge as quickly and successfully as it has done.”

Tickets for the two-day event, including five taste-at-home samples, begin at £35.62.