Lancaster Spirits Company, based in Northwest England, has officially commenced production on its first single malt whisky. This milestone is being celebrated in the brand’s newly constructed Whisky Room, a state-of-the-art distillery and warehouse specifically designed for crafting Lancaster’s unique whisky.
The Whisky Room: A State-of-the-Art Facility
The Whisky Room has been a two-year project, culminating in the installation of a 3000-litre copper and steel pot still, affectionately named Constance. This bespoke facility also features custom cask racking, designed with visitors in mind. The distillery aims to provide an immersive experience, showcasing the whisky’s journey from distillation to tasting, with a dedicated area for testing maturing casks.
A Significant Investment and Vision
Phil Simpson, Managing Director, shared the company’s ambitious vision: “We’ve invested a seven-figure sum to create this new venture for the Lancaster Spirits Company. The idea of launching a whisky business began during the Covid shutdown, and it has taken several years to bring this dream to fruition. It’s a true Lancastrian team effort—our sister company, Lancaster Brewery, will brew a special wash specifically for the whisky distillery. Lancaster Spirits Co will handle the distilling, maturing, and bottling of the whisky. Milling, brewing, fermenting, distilling, and maturing—all in one place.”
Expert Team
The distillery has recruited industry experts Christopher Pateman as Commercial Manager and Joan Casals as Production Manager. Pateman brings experience from Annandale and the Lakes Distillery, while Casals has an impressive background with producers like Halewood Artisanal Spirits.
Casals remarked: “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.”
Future Plans and Visitor Experience
Production officially began on July 8, 2024, with expectations to begin bottling the whisky by 2027. In addition, Lancaster Spirits Co plans to offer distillery tours starting later in 2024, providing whisky enthusiasts an exclusive look into the distillation process and a chance to taste the evolving spirit.
