English distillery takes Whisky of the Year crown in The Whisky Exchange Awards 2026

An English distillery has taken the top honour in this year’s The Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year competition, marking a milestone moment for the UK’s fast-growing whisky scene. 

White Peak Distillery’s Wire Works Bourbon Cask took the trophy following a blind customer tasting in London, the first time an English whisky has secured the accolade.

The annual compo invites enthusiasts to sample six unlabelled drams at the retailer’s Great Portland Street store. Voters select a single winner, with the process designed to eliminate preconceptions around age statements, regions or distillery prestige. 

This year, Wire Works Bourbon Cask rose above traditional favourites, including Bowmore 15 Year Old and Glen Moray 18 Year Old, to secure the top spot. 

The annual competition invites enthusiasts to sample six unlabelled drams at The Whisky Exchange’s Great Portland Street store…

Whisky of the Year: Wire Works Bourbon Cask – White Peak Distillery

Derbyshire’s White Peak Distillery earned widespread applause on the night as Wire Works Bourbon Cask emerged victorious. Bottled at 53.4% ABV, this core expression is drawn exclusively from first-fill bourbon barrels, a maturation that gives the whisky its characteristic mix of creamy sweetness and subtle smoke.

On the nose and palate, the whisky offers a distinctive combination of bonfire smoke, vanilla cheesecake, white chocolate, lemon curd and candied ginger.

Founder Max Vaughan said the award is “beyond anything we could have imagined,” adding that nearly ten years of distillery development have led to this moment. As Whisky of the Year, Wire Works Bourbon Cask will front a year-long promotional campaign across The Whisky Exchange throughout 2026, including discounts and in-store tastings.

£60.75, The Whisky Exchange

Spirit of the Year: Hampden Estate 1753 – Jamaica

Selected by The Whisky Exchange team, Hampden Estate 1753 has been named Spirit of the Year. This three year old Jamaican rum is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and fermented with wild yeast, producing a high-ester profile that speaks to nearly 300 years of tradition at Hampden.

At 46% ABV, the rum delivers a vibrant burst of tropical and herbal flavours: pineapple, banana and toffee, layered with the distinctive Hampden funk – hints of petrol, spice and nutmeg. Long fermentation, natural spring water and traditional pot-still distillation contribute to this expressive rum.

Its win this year coincides with a major relief initiative. In response to recent devastation in Jamaica, The Whisky Exchange will donate £6 from every bottle of Hampden 1753 sold to Support Jamaica, the official recovery fund coordinated by the country’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. Additional fundraising activities will run throughout the year.

£63.25, The Whisky Exchange

Producer of the Year: The Heart Cut

The Whisky Exchange team selected independent bottler The Heart Cut as Producer of the Year for 2026. Founded in 2023 by Georgie Bell and Fabrizio Leoni, the company has quickly built a reputation for precise cask selection and a portfolio that highlights both emerging and established distilleries from around the world.

The Heart Cut’s approach centres on one-off single cask bottlings, each chosen to express something individual about the distillery it comes from. Among its praised releases is the Fielden 2019 4 Year Old, bottled at 56.6% ABV, a representative example of the producer’s focus on clarity of flavour and careful maturation.

Co-founder Bell described the win as “an incredible validation of the passion, graft and care we put into every release,” noting that the recognition extends to the distilleries they collaborate with.

£61.25, The Whisky Exchange

Main points at a glance

• White Peak Distillery’s Wire Works Bourbon Cask named The Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year 2026, marking the first time an English whisky has won the award.
  
• Spirit of the Year was awarded to Hampden Estate 1753, a Jamaican rum aged three years in ex-bourbon barrels, and lauded for its high-ester tropical profile.
  
• The Whisky Exchange will donate £6 per bottle of Hampden 1753 to Jamaica’s official disaster relief fund, supporting recovery after recent devastation.
  
• Producer of the Year went to The Heart Cut, an independent bottler founded in 2023 and praised for its single cask releases and selective approach to maturation and distillery partnerships.
  
• Notable releases from The Heart Cut include Fielden 2019 4 Year Old.