St George's Distillery, tucked into the rolling fields near Roudham in Norfolk, opened its doors in 2006 — making it the first purpose-built whisky distillery in England in more than a hundred years. Founded by farmer James Nelstrop and his son Andrew, it drew Scottish whisky royalty in the form of the late Iain Henderson, formerly of Laphroaig, who was coaxed out of retirement to oversee the very first distillations.
The Original is the entry point to the English Whisky Co. range and the bottle that introduces most drinkers to the distillery's house style. It is unpeated, made from English-grown barley, distilled in copper pot stills and matured primarily in ex-bourbon casks. Bottled at 43% ABV, it is designed to be approachable rather than challenging — and that is exactly what it delivers.
What you get is a clean, cereal-driven single malt with the kind of orchard fruit and vanilla profile that anyone who has enjoyed a young Speysider will instantly recognise. There is no smoke, no heavy sherry influence, just barley, bourbon oak and the slightly grassy, floral character that seems to define English whisky as a category in its own right.
It is not trying to be a 25-year-old single malt and it should not be judged as one. As a daily-drinking, conversation-starting English whisky from the country's pioneering modern distillery, it does its job with quiet, unfussy charm.
