Proposed Legal Definition for English Single Malt Whisky

The UK Government’s plan for a legal definition of English single malt whisky is, according to Mark Kent, chief executive officer of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), “taking advantage” of the reputation built by the Scottish industry. He stated:

“The UK Government’s plans for a legal definition of English single malt whisky are ‘taking advantage’ of the reputation created by the Scottish industry.”

“No confusion” for consumers

Kent insists that Scotch whisky’s global standing is “worth fighting for” and that there should be “no confusion” about what single malt truly means:

“Innovation does not mean taking advantage of the reputation created by others to sell a different product. There should be no confusion around the single malt category for consumers.”

Debate Over Production Process

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) suggests that English single malt should be made from “UK grain” using locally sourced water, but requires only the distillation step to occur at a single distillery. The SWA, however, believes the entire process—milling, mashing, fermenting, and distilling—must be undertaken at one site, preserving the strong link to place.

Kent further explains that the long-held definition of single malt whisky means:

“Only one location. Only one distillery where the new make spirit is created from the malted barley connected to one place, maintaining that fundamental link between community and spirit.”

He emphasizes that Defra’s proposed definition effectively makes it “one of several” locations and producers, which is:

“Not good enough to be called single malt.”

Impact on the Scotch Industry

Last year, 127 million bottles of Scotch whisky were sold, contributing around £5.4 billion to Scotland’s economy. Kent worries that consumers, when faced with two bottles labeled as single malt—one Scotch and one English—will have “no idea” they were made to very different standards.

“The definition of ‘single malt’ English whisky would undercut Scotch whisky by free riding on its hard-fought reputation, avoid the necessary investment to make single malt at one site, and undermine the quality standard nurtured by communities across Scotland.”

A Defra spokesperson noted that no final decision has been made on awarding Geographical Indication (GI) status to English whisky, as the application process remains ongoing.