Pastures New – The World’s First English Blended Whisky – English Whisky News
Pastures New – The World’s First English Blended Whisky
Experience N.22 // Pastures New
We’re proud to be part of another landmark moment in English whisky history with the release of Pastures New, the world’s first English blended whisky (49.1% ABV).
We’ve teamed up with a collective of pioneering distilleries, each contributing their own unique character to a spirit that celebrates innovation, craftsmanship and the vibrant diversity of the English whisky scene, to create a blended whisky.
At the Cotswolds Distillery, we’ve always believed in setting new standards—from creating the first full-scale distillery in the Cotswolds to championing locally grown barley and traditional methods. Now, we’re excited to see our single malt play a key role in this delicious blend.
Crafted through collaboration and united by a commitment to quality, Pastures New is a bold step forward for English whisky. It’s a celebration of landscape, technique and shared passion—bottled.
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BEHIND THE BLEND
EXPERIENCE N.22 // PASTURES NEW
This whisky was born in our London studio, tucked beneath the White Lyan pub on Hoxton Street. We opened the studio to build connections with distillers outside of Scotland, and through a series of events, we welcomed distilleries like Fielden, Cotswolds, and Thomson of New Zealand. As always, Pete being Pete, he couldn’t resist blending the samples they brought along.
English Whisky: An Exciting Evolution
English whisky is an exciting and diverse category. Without the constraints of tradition, distillers have the freedom to explore different grains, techniques, and styles—each aiming for the highest possible quality. The samples we tasted were filled with pride. The people behind them knew they were onto something big.
The idea to blend an English whisky was obvious. It’s what we do—every whisky we taste is immediately assessed for how it might work in a blend. And with the first samples—a combination of elegant Cotswolds, spicy Fielden, and others from distillers we admired—it was clear we were on to something special.
We didn’t realise the significance of what we were doing until someone asked, “Has anyone else done this?” After some research and input from the English Whisky Guild, we found that, to the best of our knowledge, no one had ever created a blended English whisky before. That’s when we knew we had something truly groundbreaking.
The Making of Pastures New
For our first attempt at this “world’s first,” we needed to ensure it lived up to the high standards of English craftsmanship. The English have set a benchmark for quality, and blending can sometimes be seen as reducing that quality. We had to find a way to surpass expectations—not just match them.
We sourced samples from four of England’s best distillers: Fielden, Cotswolds, Adnams, and Cooper King. Each brought its unique approach and flavour profile to the blend. The variety in grain, technique, and landscape is what makes this whisky so exciting.
A New Chapter for English Whisky
This is a special moment for English whisky, especially with the English Whisky Guild and their GI application for Single Malt. We’re honoured to have been trusted with these liquids, adding to the powerful narrative of English whisky. It’s a story of passion, patience, and commitment. But more than that, it’s a story of diversity—different places, different scales, different influences—all coming together in one bold, unified blend.
