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Scotch whisky backers have attacked the UK government’s decision to grant geographical indication status to English whisky, arguing that new rules in England risk hurting the reputation of Scotland’s most valuable goods export.
Last week, UK ministers approved legal protection for English whisky, bringing it in line with Scotch, Welsh and Irish counterparts.
The change, which takes effect next month, means “English Whisky” and “English Whiskey” will be legally protected names under the UK Spirit Drinks Geographical Indications (GI) scheme and officially recognises the product as distinct from neighbouring categories.
Under current rules, single malt Scotch whisky must be mashed, fermented and distilled at a single distillery in Scotland, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), which speaks for the sector. Some processes involved in producing English single malt whisky can take place outside the primary distillery, it said.
Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, on Tuesday said the UK government’s move risked disadvantaging Scotch producers that had invested to meet traditional production standards, and called for it to be “properly scrutinised”.
The ruling Scottish National Party called for the decision to be reversed, saying it would add to other challenges facing Scotch such as duties and high energy costs.
“Our whisky is our premier product and it is absolutely wrong for the Labour UK government to dilute that status by giving English whisky the same legal protections,” said Laura Mitchell, SNP MSP for Moray, which is home to brands such as Glenfiddich, The Macallan and The Glenlivet.
In 2025, the value of Scotch exports was £5.4bn, representing almost a quarter of Scotland’s international goods exports and 21 per cent of all UK food and drink exports.
The SWA said it was “profoundly concerned” by the decision, saying it undermined the established definition of “single malt” and “jeopardises the category which the Scotch whisky industry established”. It was considering its position and “next steps” following consultation with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the trade body added.
Scotch makes up more than 90 per cent of single malt worldwide and more than 95 per cent of single malt in the UK.
Unlike Scotch, English whiskies must be made from 100 per cent UK-grown cereal grain, and will be allowed to mature in wooden casks other than oak.
The English Whisky Guild, a new trade body formed to represent English whisky producers, first applied for GI status in 2022.
Tagore Ramoutar, vice-chair of the English Whisky Guild, called the objections “bewildering” because the GI-codified production practices had existed in England for more than two decades.
“Without the English whisky GI, these practices would continue without any regulation,” he said. “I think the debate would be much more interesting if it focused on our groundbreaking rule that English whisky must only use UK grain.”
The number of English whisky distilleries has jumped from 46 in 2023 to 70 today. The sector already exports to 32 different countries, including Canada, Japan and China.
The Scotch whisky industry has faced several tough years as overproduction over the past decade has combined with a slump in demand triggered by a global cost of living crisis and changing drinking trends.
In the first half of 2026, the value of Scotch exports rose about 3 per cent to £2.5bn, with volumes up more than 6 per cent to 655mn 70cl bottles.
UK whisky was carved out of the US tariff regime by President Donald Trump and has benefited from UK free trade agreements with countries such as India, where demand for Scotch is growing.
Defra said in a statement that the English Whisky application was considered through the statutory GI process and the government remained committed to supporting the success of the Scotch whisky industry and the wider UK sector.
There was no statutory UK-wide definition of “single malt” and each whisky had its own traditions and practices, the department added.
