Production Begins at New Multi-Million Pound English Distillery

A newly built distillery in Lancaster has recently opened following a two year development project and an undisclosed, seven figure investment. Lancaster Spirits Company have opened their new facility on the same location as their existing brewing production site The Lancaster Brewery.

Called The Whisky Room, the new development features an all new distillery with warehouse space. Chief among the new equipment is a bespoke 3,000 litre copper and steel pot still christened Constance.

The group have designed the distillery to specifically showcase the production process, with distillery tours hoping to start later this year.

Interestingly, the distillery will also utilise a a special wash produced by their sister brewery. Managing director Phil Simpson describes the synergy between the two facilities as “a real Lancastrian team effort …Milling, brewing, fermenting, distilling and maturing – all in one place”

Simpson has hired a crack team to manage the distillery’s operations. Joan Casals joins from Halewood’s Bankroll distillery as The Whisky Room’s production manager. Casals’ goal is a simple one; in his own words, “ensuring that every drop of spirit coming out of our Whisky Room is superb”.

The commercial side of the business will also feature a wealth of experience. Christopher Pateman brings with him 13 years of experience in the industry having held commercial roles at Annandale Distillery and fellow English brand The Lakes.

Little has been revealed about the style of whisky the distillery hopes to produce, though they do highlight that they will use an exceptionally slow, 120+ hour fermentation process. This will be achieved with the help of the brewery’s unique, 200 year old live yeast.

Production started at the site earlier this month and the distillery will of course have to wait the minimum three years before bottling their spirit.

For those super keen to get involved with the Lancaster Spirits Company’s whisky adventure, they have launched a private cask purchasing programme called the Cask Collective. An exclusive bottle club called the Founders’ Reserve is expected to follow. This will give members exclusive access to the distillery’s spirit as it matures.