Plans to enable English whiskey producers to use the term “Single Malt” caused sharp opposition from Scottish distilleries and politicians – informs the BBC. Currently, Single Malt must be produced in one distillery. The new regulations would allow the production of a drink in several different locations – which would radically reduce the costs. Scottish producers say that such a step will “climb tradition” and will harm a multi -billion industry.
As BBC explains, according to the proposals considered by Great Britain's governmentthe term “English whiskey Single Malt” could refer to the drink produced by one distillery in England. However, the Scotch Whiskey Association Swa (Trade Organization representing the Scottish Whiskey Industry) said that it was “devaluation of Single Malt” because, as he claims, the English method would be simpler than the process used in Scotland.
However, the decision has not yet been made – explains the spokesman for the Department of the Environment, Food and WSI (Defra) cited by the BBC. “The process of submitting applications is in progress,” it was transferred.
Single Malt whiskey dispute
The new regulations are to mean that English whiskey will be able to be produced in several different locations – which will radically reduce the costs for the whiskey distillery there.
– The production of Scottish whiskey involves the use of barley malt to the mash, and potential to be fermented. Then it is distilled in the same place – explains Graham Littlejohn, director of strategy and communication in Swa, in an interview with BBC Good Morning Scotland. – The English proposal would mean depriving the first two of the three stages and the complete removal of a fundamental relationship with the place that the Scottish whiskey Single Malt has – he added.
As Littlejohn added, the permission of the English industry to use this term in relation to your alcohol “would really hurt the integrity of the Single Malt category, and with it the reputation of the Scotch whiskey industry.”
As BBC explains, as proposed on the English Single Malt whiskey, this alcohol would be distilled in one place, while mash and fermentation could take place elsewhere.
In turn, the English whiskey Guild (an organization, which was to protect and promote the protection of English whiskey) explained that his distilleries cooperate with local breweries that are not in the same location – writes BBC. He adds that they want to “use their specialist knowledge in the field of brewing to create innovative and unique whiskey.”
Application for the geographical designation of whiskey
As BBC explains, the proposal to permission to produce English whiskey Single Malt is part of a wider application submitted by the english whiskey Guild to the Department of Environment, Food and WSI matters for the geographical designation of English whiskey. This would give her protected geographical status, which would mean that it could only be used to describe the whiskey produced in England.
Miri Gougeon, Secretary of the Scottish Cabinet for Country Economy and Tourism, cited by the BBC, said that any proposal “undermining the reputation or definition of the term Single Malt could have destructive effects on our iconic whiskey industry and it would be completely unacceptable.” Added this industry “is of great economic importance to Scotland.” Last year, she exported whiskey worth 5.4 billion pounds.
John Swinney, the first minister (prime minister) of Scotland, is also an opponent of such a step. As explained by the BBC, he said that the Scottish government would “take all necessary actions in this matter to protect the identity and nature of Scotch whiskey.”
The Scottish whiskey industry is huge. According to “Daily Mail”, 43 bottles of Scotch whiskey are exported to the markets around the world. Last year, the value of this export for the economy was 5.4 billion pounds And it constituted 74 percent Scottish food exports and drinks.
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