3 English Whiskies Perfect for Cheering on the Three Lions at the World Cup
Political controversy aside, following an exciting group stage, the 2026 World Cup is quickly shaping up to be a classic. Even if you’re not an avid football fan, you can’t help but be impressed at the talent on display. While Scotland were desperately unlucky not to progress, (talk about a ‘Group of Death’) one of our home nations are faring a little better and are now through to the quarter finals (as of this writing).
Yes, I’m of course referring to England. As a football fan myself, England vs Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning (July 5th) was one of the most exciting and exhilarating games of football I’ve ever witnessed. Hosted at the imposing and seemingly impenetrable Azteca Arena, the Three Lions were up against it from the start. Mexico were co-hosts of the tournament and had not conceded a single goal throughout the competition, plus they were on home turf. There was the altitude, there was an extremely hostile crowd, there were some questionable decisions, but ultimately, Harry Kane and company got the job done and progressed to the quarter finals.
To mark such an occasion, I thought, today, I’d cover something slightly different and focus on English whisky instead.
Whether you want to get all patriotic, or simply enjoy some delicious English whisky as you watch the football, here are 3 English drams perfect for cheering on the Three Lions at the World Cup.
The UK is home to many stunning stretches of coastline, and North Yorkshire has to be up there with the best. Along with the picturesque and historic town of Whitby, and the wonderfully quaint fishing villages of Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay, just down the road you have Filey.
Filey may not get as much attention as places such as Whitby or Scarborough, but it’s still a fantastic stretch of the North Yorkshire coastline, with some of the best fish and chips you could ever wish for. It turns out, it’s also home to some fantastic English whisky as well.
Filey Bay Whisky is produced just down the road from Filey, at the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery.
The distillery was founded in 2016 and is a great example of that wonderful ‘farm to field’ principle that so many English whisky producers are now adopting. Yorkshire barley is renowned for being so robust and complex, which is why so many fantastic beers come from the county. The barley used to produce Filey Bay Whisky is actually grown and harvested at the distillery’s family farm.
Filey Bay Whisky is now an established English whisky brand, thanks largely to their flagship expression. Filey Bay Flagship is a stunning single malt matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks. It is bottled at a very pleasant 46% ABV and features a fabulous, all natural, pale golden hay colour.
On the Nose
On the nose, there’s a distinctly floral, herbaceous aroma to this dram. Strong notes of fresh mint, rosemary, and lavender, with a distinctly sweet honey-like undertone. As these disperse, more fruit enters the fold, with prominent aromas of juicy peaches, dried apricots, buttery golden syrup flapjack, and sweet oak.
On the Palate
On the palate, it’s sweeter than expected, offering up prominent notes of chocolate chip cookies, maple syrup, Yorkshire parkin, caramel hazelnuts, and peanut brittle. There’s also a suggestion of sweet barley water, stewed pear, and candied peel.
The Finish
Providing a medium finish, this dram delivers plenty of citrus zest, gingernut biscuits, and honey, with just a slightly floral kick right at the end. It’s a very summery, dram, this one.
Cotswolds Signature Single Malt
When it comes to fantastic English whisky, Cotswolds Distillery gets mentioned time and time again, for a variety of reasons. The most obvious being the fact that they make exceptional whisky.
The Cotswolds is one of those places that people who have never been to England seem to think the entire country is like. It’s so green, and so beautiful, and I can’t wait to visit again. But what of the whisky? Well, the Cotswolds Distillery was founded back in 2014 in the heart of the Cotswolds, Stourton to be precise. In a little over a decade, they’ve put out a number of award-winning drops.
While I’ve a lot of time for many distilleries, this one is particularly important as it played such a huge part in the renaissance of English whisky.
Listen, we know English whisky is not on the same level of Scotch, nor is it ever likely to be, but the growth it’s enjoyed in a little over a decade can’t be overlooked. The Cotswolds Distillery, and the remarkable drams they put out, are part of the reason for why that is.
If you want a dram to help steady the nerves should the game go to penalties, (please, no) this is the dram for you. Bottled at 46%, it was aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and red wine casks to give a great amount of body and character.
On the Nose
The nose is very cereal dominant here. Even from a distance, you can pick up the grainy notes. I got creamy porridge oats cooked in whole milk, drizzled with honey, and topped with overripe raspberries and toasted almonds. There’s also a nice refreshing citrus scent, with gentle grassy notes right at the end.
On the Palate
On the palate there’s a good amount of creamy vanilla custard and freshly baked apple and cinnamon crumble from the get-go. This is coupled with salted caramel, fresh lime zest, marzipan, and a twist of black pepper and cloves.
The Finish
This dram is lengthy and offers up a fantastically creamy mouthfeel, complete with vanilla ice cream, lightly toasted oak, Turkish Delight, and dark treacle.
GreatDrams English Whisky Co 11 Year Old PX Sherry Cask Single Malt
Finally, from our Rare Cask Series, we have the GreatDrams English Whisky Co. 11 Year Old PX Sherry Cask Single Malt. It’s not often we put out an English dram, so when we do, we like to make sure we do it right. I can say with confidence, we certainly did here.
The English Whisky Distillery had already been on our radar for ages, but once we sampled this award-winning whisky, we knew we needed to get some, and quick. So we did. This 11-year-old dram spent 4 years in ex-bourbon barrels, before enjoying a whopping 7 years of maturation in first-fill PX sherry casks. You want a sherry monster? Look no further.
This is a dram that would be perfect for sipping on as you watch England hopefully going all the way and finally bringing football home. It’s smooth, it’s fruity, it’s sweet, and at 48.2% ABV, it should help steady the nerves should things start getting a bit tricky for Tuchel’s men.
On the Nose
On the nose, a bouquet of sweet treats await your nostrils. You should get heaps of sticky fruit, brown sugar, sweet raisins thanks to those PX sherry casks, and a creamy malty aroma right at the end.
On the Palate
On the palate, those sweet Pedro Ximenez sherry notes continue to shine through. There’s a generous amount of dark cherry, stewed plums, juicy raisins, and sticky dates, with a gentle spicy warmth that builds along the palate. Then comes those bourbon notes to keep the sweetness just at the right level. There’s a touch of charred oak, malt, honey, and citrus which balances everything out wonderfully.
The Finish
The finish is long and warming. This isn’t a sherry finished dram, it’s a sherry-matured dram, and that’s the difference. There’s fruit and oak in equal measure, with a gentle spicy warmth right at the end. This is a dangerously drinkable dram and would be the perfect accompaniment to your match day experience. Come on, England!
CatherineDianneSoleta
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