Lancaster Spirits Co begins whisky production
Northwest England’s Lancaster Spirits Company has begun production on its first single malt whisky. The whisky will be made in the brand’s new Whisky Room, a distillery and warehouse specially designed for Lancaster’s whisky.
Within the Whisky Room, which has been in progress for the past two years, is found a 3000-litre copper and steel pot still which the team have named Constance. The Whisky Room also features bespoke cask racking. Visitors were kept in mind during the design process; the distillery aims to showcase its whisky’s journey from distillation to tasting, with a special area dedicated to testing maturing casks.
Managing director Phil Simpson said: “We’ve invested a seven-figure sum to create this new venture for the Lancaster Spirits Company. We first started planning a whisky business during the Covid shutdown and it has taken a few years to realise our dreams. A real Lancastrian team effort — our sister company, Lancaster Brewery, will brew a special wash, specifically for the whisky distillery. Lancaster Spirits Co then takes over with the distilling, maturing and bottling of the whisky. Milling, brewing, fermenting, distilling, and maturing — all in one place.”
Joining the distillery to focus on whisky are Christopher Pateman as commercial manager and Joan Casals as production manager. Both come with whisky business credentials; Pateman has held commercial roles at Annandale and the Lakes Distillery, while Casals has worked for whisky producers including Halewood Artisanal Spirits.
Casals commented: “Since joining Lancaster Spirits Co I have been busy commissioning our new distillery and preparing everything needed to commence production this month. Our beautiful, shiny new still, Constance, is now up and running… Now I can start to focus on the most important element: ensuring that every drop of spirit coming out of our Whisky Room is superb.”
The Whisky Room opened for production on 8 July, and the brand expects to begin bottling its whisky from 2027. Whisky distillery tours will begin later in 2024.
17 July 2024 - Lucy Schofield