Discover the Best Single Malt Whisky - Cotswolds Distillery’s Award-Winning and Bestselling
Among the distilleries that have mastered the art of single malt whisky, Cotswolds Distillery stands out for its dedication to authenticity, quality and flavour. From its locally grown barley to its meticulous production process, every bottle captures the essence of the English countryside. In this guide, we explore what makes single malt whisky so special, uncover the secrets behind the Cotswolds’ award-winning range, and help you discover which expression best suits your tastes:
Why is Single Malt Whisky Considered the Best?
Single malt whisky is made from 100% malted barley and no other type of grain. It is also produced by a single distillery with no blending of different malts. It is the most sought-after style because it is associated with higher purity and more directly reflects the distillery’s craftsmanship and quality ingredients. Also, because there is nowhere to hide with single malt, the quality on offer is typically higher than blended malt whisky. Malt whisky also has a very distinctive profile – delicate, yet complex - that can be amplified in many different ways. No single malts are truly alike.
“We’re proud of the transparency and capability to showcase that we’re ‘not hiding anything’ - we’ll tell you if we’re using different grains and mash bills because that makes the story and end product more interesting. We just stick to single malt because that’s what we’re set up to do. Single malt whisky of the Cotswolds”
- Rob Patchett, Whisky Ambassador at Cotswolds Distillery
Heritage meets Craftmanship – The Cotswolds difference
Dan Szor, the founder of the Cotswolds Distillery, is a fervent lover of whisky and the Cotswolds. He was adamant that the iconic region deserved an equally prestigious whisky distillery that showcased the quality of its local produce – barley. And the Cotswolds Distillery was born, producing exceptional quality single malt whisky, capturing the essence of the landscape.
“The distillery was set up by Dan because he loves whisky and he said three things ‘I want to make a whisky I want to drink, in a distillery I want to visit and in an area that I love’. If you’re making a whisky that you want to drink, you want to make sure every element is done with credibility…there are no corners cut”
- Rob Patchett, Whisky Ambassador at Cotswolds Distillery
We do things very differently at the Cotswolds Distillery, we’re all about flavour. We pack our new make spirit with as much flavour as possible before it goes into the barrel, so the barrels accentuate the existing flavour. We achieve this by using an extended fermentation period of eight days and later cut points to allow more flavour to carry over into the heart cut. Also, due to the slightly more temperate climate of the Cotswolds, our spirit matures faster than Scotch. This means we can achieve the complexity of a ten or twelve-year-old Scotch at a much younger age.
We’re incredibly proud of every bottle that leaves the distillery because we prioritise consistency and quality. “Like a Michelin-star restaurant, your best day has to be your worst day”, says Rob Patchett.
Discover the best single malt whisky
Bestselling Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky
From the Classics Collection, the Signature Single Malt Whisky was the first ever made and remains virtually unchanged from its infancy. It blends the rich and bold red fruits and treacle flavours of highly active STR (Shaved Toasted and Re-charred Casks) and the complex honeys, spices, and citrus from ex-Bourbon barrels. “It can be defined in different ways - marmalade on toast, apples & pears, honey and lemon”
- Tasting notes: honey, red fruits, treacle, citrus, orchard fruits
- Barrels: Bourbon, STR
- ABV: 46%
- Collections: Classic Single Malt, Bestselling Single Malt
Prize-Winning Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky
Aged exclusively in our founder Dan’s favourite cask – STR – this whisky creates a rich and intense flavour to our fruit-packed new make spirit. The Founder’s Choice Single Malt adds rich red fruit notes from the wine previously matured in the barrels and deep treacle and toffee flavours from the toasted and charred wood. The mostly European oak adds a subtle grounding characteristic.
- Tasting notes: toffee, chocolate, treacle, red fruits
- Barrels: STR only
- ABV: between 59.1% to 60.5%
- Collections: Cask Expressions, Wine cask single malt
Award-Winning Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky
Matured full-term in carefully selected sherry casks, including the finest American and Spanish hogsheads and butts, some seasoned with dry Oloroso sherry and others with sweet Pedro Ximenez. One of the more decadent single malt expressions, this sherry cask single malt favours a fruit-forward palate.
- Tasting notes: Dried fruits, chocolate, spice
- Barrels: American or Spanish oak, Oloroso and PX hogsheads or butts (large)
- Collections: Cask expressions, Sherry cask single malt
- ABV: 57.4%
Rare Harvest Series: Wychwood
The Harvest Series yearly release is inspired by a local painting. Each time, our award-winning distiller Alice Pearson creates a completely unique blend. The 2025 Harvest Series - Wychwood - is a limited edition crafted from a rare parcel of Port and ten-year-old Bourbon barrels. It is a bold and expressive single malt offering flavours of stewed fruit, layered with vanilla and a whisper of peat.
- Tasting notes: Stewed fruit, vanilla, subtle peat
- Barrels: Port, ten-year-old Bourbon
- Collections: Limited edition whisky, Harvest Series
- ABV: 50%
Comparing the Cotswolds Single Malt Range – Which is the Best?
| Rich | Sweet | Dry | Smoky | Light | Citrus | Spice | |
| Rich | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Sweet | Sherry Cask | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Dry | Wychwood | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Smoky | Wychwood | Peated Cask | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Light | Signature | Hearts and Crafts - Calvados | -- | Peated cask | -- | -- | -- |
| Citrus | Bourbon cask | Signature | Bourbon cask | Peated cask | Bourbon cask | -- | -- |
| Spice | King’s 75th | Sherry cask | King’s 75th | Wychwood | Bourbon cask | Bourbon Cask | -- |
How to Enjoy our Single Malt Whisky
There is no singular way to enjoy our whisky. We recommend that you try single malt whisky neat to explore the flavours as the craftsman intended. However, we have an extensive collection of cocktail recipes which are designed to elevate the unique flavours of each spirit.
Read our whisky flavour guides to learn how to pair your whisky with mixers and food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Cotswolds single malt is considered the best for beginners?
We always recommend you start with the Signature Single Malt because it offers a well-rounded profile which beginners and aficionados alike can enjoy.
“It’s just a really great whisky, you can have it with water, you can have it on ice or in a cocktail. It’s really a Swiss army knife of whisky. However, if you want to drink your whisky, it can deliver for you, and there are very few whiskies in the world that can do that.”
- Rob Patchett, Whisky Ambassador at Cotswolds Distillery
Has Cotswolds Distillery won any awards for its single malt whisky?
Many of our whiskies have won awards. Mostly in the English whisky category, but some in wider categories such as single malt or craft spirit awards. The Signature Single Malt, the Founder’s Choice, and the Sherry Cask have all won multiple awards. Read about the best-reviewed English Whisky .