The UK Government has granted "protected geographical indication status" to English whisky, prompting anger from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), which represents 90 producers including Glenmorangie, Johnnie Walker and Diageo. The announcement was made quietly at 5pm on a Friday, shortly before Parliament went into recess, and the SWA argues the rules for English whisky are inconsistent with those imposed on Scotch, since Scottish single malts must be entirely mashed, fermented and distilled at one distillery, while English producers face looser requirements.

England's whisky industry has grown rapidly, from 46 distilleries in 2023 to 70 today, spanning Northumberland to Cornwall, exporting to over 30 countries and worth around £1billion, though it remains far smaller than Scotland's roughly £5billion industry. SWA chairman Mark Kent called the decision "profoundly concerned" and said the association would "consider its position and next steps" after talks with Defra, while English whisky advocates, including Kevin Hollinrake MP and the English Whisky Guild's Tagore Ramoutar, insist there is room for both industries and that the SWA would struggle to prove genuine harm.