Scotland, SWA oppose UK plans for English single malt whisky designation

The proposal by the English Whisky Guild to define English single malt whisky has drawn strong opposition from Scottish politicians and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), who argue it could damage the reputation of single malt whisky. The UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is considering granting protected geographic status to English single malt, defined as whisky made from UK grain at an English distillery using local water. Critics, including Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon, claim this definition undermines the traditional connection of single malt whisky to its geographic origin and could have 'devastating effects' on Scotland's iconic whisky industry. The SWA emphasizes that the proposal only requires distillation at a single site, not the creation of the spirit from malted barley at that location, which is inconsistent with established Scotch whisky standards. Gougeon has pledged to raise the matter with the UK government to protect the identity and character of Scotch whisky, which is a significant export for Scotland. The consultation on the proposal remains open until May 19, with industry leaders awaiting further developments.