The English Distillery Unveils Historic Cask 001 Single Malt
To mark 18 years of distilling, The English Distillery has released its most historically significant whisky to date: Cask 001 Single Malt. Distilled in 2006 before the distillery officially opened, this limited release of only 60 hand-blown decanters is a tribute to the late founder James Nelstrop’s dream and the start of England’s modern whisky revival.
Cask 001 Single Malt
On 10 July, at an intimate tasting in Norfolk, The English Distillery revealed the long-awaited Cask 001 Single Malt—the very first cask ever filled at the distillery. Distilled in 2006, this release not only honours the distillery’s 18-year legacy but also celebrates the vision of founder James Nelstrop, who laid the foundation for English whisky before it was widely recognised.
Aged in an ex-Jim Beam Bourbon cask, finished for 12–18 months in a PX and Oloroso Sherry cask, and finally returned to its original barrel, Cask 001 has spent nearly two decades maturing in the cool depths of Bond 1 warehouse. Just 60 bottles will be released on 25 September 2025, each housed in a hand-blown Langham Glass decanter, weighing approximately 4kg and priced at £3,000 (US$4,070).
- Product Name: Cask 001 – The English Single Malt
- Brand: The English
- Category: Single Malt Whisky
- Country: England
- Region: Norfolk
- Distillery: The English Distillery
- Alcohol: 54.1% ABV (Cask Strength)
- Age: 18 years
- Style: Unpeated, Natural Cask Strength
- Launch Date: 25 September 2025
- Price: £3,000 / US$4,070
- Availability: 60 decanters only, UK-based exclusive
Tasting Notes:
At a glance, Cask 001 offers a luxurious sensory experience born from time and craft.
- Appearance / Color: Deep amber with golden highlights
- Nose / Aroma: Poached pears, canned peaches, vanilla, and soft treacle
- Flavour / Taste / Palate: Rounded sweetness, light spice, subtle sherry depth, and mild salinity
- Finish: Long and elegant with dried fruit and lingering warmth
Key Highlights:
This isn’t just whisky—it’s history bottled with purpose.
- Purpose: Celebrate the distillery’s founding and honour its first cask
- Distilled by Iain Henderson, ex-Laphroaig legend
- Crafted from Norfolk-grown barley
- Finished in PX/Oloroso and matured in an ex-Bourbon cask
- Bottled at natural cask strength, unpeated
- First-ever cask from England’s oldest whisky distillery
- Only 60 bottles, each in a handcrafted decanter by Langham Glass
- One-of-a-kind collector’s item with deep historic significance
Final Overview:
Andrew Nelstrop, chairman and son of founder James Nelstrop, said it best: “This isn’t just a remarkable spirit, it’s a historical artefact… the whisky that lit the spark.”
Jonathan Miller of Langham Glass added: “Two Norfolk companies coming together to craft something truly unique… the bottle is a tribute to tradition.”
FAQs
1. How many bottles of Cask 001 are being released?
Only 60 handcrafted decanters will be made available.
2. Where can I buy it?
Exclusively through The English Distillery and select UK retailers.
3. Is this whisky peated?
No, Cask 001 is unpeated, highlighting its smooth and fruit-forward profile.
