Ad Gefrin celebrates first Northumbrian English Single Malt Whisky

– Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery, Wooler, Northumberland –

Today, Ad Gefrin celebrates the coming of age of the first ten casks of whisky to be distilled on their Wooler premises. Exactly three years to the day since it was distilled, Ad Gefrin’s first whisky officially becomes a single malt – the first Northumbrian English Single Malt Whisky, produced at England’s most northerly distillery.

This is a landmark moment in the Ad Gefrin story: the culmination of an extraordinary journey that began with an initial vison and masterplan in 2018, the arrival of the stills in 2022, and the opening of the site to the public in 2023.

Ad Gefrin is Northumberland’s first legal whisky distillery in 200 years, reawakening a deep-rooted Northumbrian tradition of whisky making. During Hogarth’s Gin Craze, it was whisky — not gin — that was widely consumed in this part of Northumberland. Across the Cheviots, illicit stills were hidden in hillsides, with figures such as the infamous Black Rory becoming part of local folklore. Ever since, the county has always had a stronger affinity with whisky than any other spirit.

A member of the English Whisky Guild, Ad Gefrin’s approach to distilling is rooted in the unique heritage, ancient hospitality and produce of Northumberland. Ad Gefrin was founded on a vision of bringing people together to celebrate the region, and its new single malt is the epitome of field to glass, with the entire production journey no more than 40 miles:

Barley: grown by five local farming families who together produce over 250 tonnes of barley annually for Ad Gefrin, malted by nearby Simpsons Malt: a fifth-generation family business founded in 1862
Water: drawn from the surrounding Cheviot Hills via a borehole beneath Ad Gefrin’s Wooler site, giving the whisky its own distinctive local water profile

Ad Gefrin is the brainchild of the Ferguson family who have been living and working in Northumberland for four generations. Ad Gefrin is born out of a desire to literally distil what it means to be Northumbrian, and to create a visitor destination that brings people together and creates jobs: a genuine cross-generational regeneration effort and a catalyst for positive change that aims to revitalise the local community. In the first two years alone, Ad Gefrin has welcomed 138k visitors.

Director of Distilling, Ben Murphy, responsible for creating the whisky and under whose careful gaze it has matured, commented: “It’s been an extraordinary journey so far, but the story has only really just begun. Our water, barley, provenance and environment has given us our DNA, and we know our spirits will be full bodied, flavourful and bold. But it is what happens between now and when we release it to the public that will truly shape the enduring character that Ad Gefrin Single Malt will become recognised for.”

Co-founder of Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery, Eileen Ferguson comments: “This is such an exciting moment for us. Three years ago, we thought this day was a long way in the future, and yet the time has flown. It has taken time, a lot of care, passion and dedication to get to this point. We couldn’t be more excited for where we go from here.”

The Ad Gefrin single malt whisky will be available to purchase in 2027. For more information on Ad Gefrin and its current spirits offering or to book a distillery tour and tasting please visit adgefrin.co.uk.

Tags: Ad GefrinNorthumbrian Englishsingle malt whisky

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.