By Andrew Starke
The first single malt whisky made in England for about a century has attracted the interest of whisky enthusiasts around the world.
St George’s Distillery, a family-run Norfolk company, is behind the tipple having built the distillery in Roudham, south Norfolk, in 2006.
The distillery produced its first ‘run’ in November 2006 and, having now been in barrels for three year, it can officially be called whisky.
St. George’s is presently producing an average of 13 casks a week.
Managing Director James Nelstrop said production of the whisky, which is being sold for £35 a bottle, was the culmination of a 45-year-old dream.
The plant was built at a cost of £2 million, ostensibly as a retirement project for Nelstrop, with his son Andrew also involved.
The distillery was officially opened by Prince Charles in March 2007.
The special edition first release will be ready for Christmas this year but has already sold out.
Other enthusiasts, including those in Australia, will have to wait for 2010.
Whisky expert and author of The Whisky Bible 2010, Jim Murray, was impressed with the first bottling from the St George’s distillery.
“The result is a proud malt that sends the tastebuds into quivering wreck drowning in its own juices,” he told The Times of London. “To say that it is salivating is like saying Ardbeg is a little bit smoky. For balance, there is a massive spice surge towards the long finish.”