Norfolk whisky distillery opens its doors

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: England's only malt distillery offers tastings and public tours for the first time

Norfolk-based St George's Distillery at Roudham, near Thetford is to begin public tours and tasting sessions today (17 August 2007).

The English Whisky Company has been producing spirits since October 2006.

Its own produce will not be ready until November 2009 at the earliest, but the company has also made its own range of liqueurs, including Norfolk Nog, Norfolk Blueberry, and Norfolk Blackberry. That is why it has decided to start the tastings.

Staff have completed the finishing touches to the new 1million distillery building, which includes a caf, conference room, tasting area, and shop featuring more than 150 different whiskies, bourbons, and liqueurs from around the world.

Visitors to the distillery, which received a royal seal of approval from Prince Charles in March 2007, will be able to learn how English whisky is made as well as tasting a range of spirits from Scotland and around the globe.

The new tourist destination, which employs about a dozen people, comes almost two years after father and son whisky enthusiasts James and Andrew Nelstrop came up with the concept of building a distillery on Breckland farmland.

Managing director Andrew said he hoped that more would spring up across the country as a result of the opening of England's first registered malt whisky distillery in more than 110 years.

His aspiration is to attract 50,000 visitors a year.

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