England is mostly known for its ale and gin. Yet despite having plenty of grain and rye fields, I can’t think of a single English Whisky. While just north and west, Scotch Whisky and Irish Whisky is internationally acclaimed. What is the backstory here?
I do know gin was historically mostly enjoyed by the English lower class because it wasn’t taxed. But what stopped the British aristocracy from investing and encouraging more English spirits to take advantage of all their farmland?
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Hmmm, maybe they just said fuck it, we’ll just steal it from Scotland and Ireland?
Culture and tradition. Whisky is/was kind of tied up with celtic/gaelic culture. The English never had a tradition of distilling whisky, and probably decided it was not worth trying, because who in their right mind would choose an English whisky when Scotch whisky is literally right there?
That said, it might be possible to start one now. Scotch whisky distillers have gotten a bit complacent recently, and Japanese and American distillers have been legitimately challenging them in tasting competitions. So maybe there’s room for an English distiller to come in and shake things up a bit.
Also as you mentioned, England used its grain for ale. I definitely prefer English beer to Scottish, as a rule.
This is just bait.
There been a long gap of making Whisky in England, for 100 years we made none of the stuff.
There is English whisky. Cotswold distillery.