First Cornish Whiskey in 300 years

Two local drink producers have joined forces to launch the first whiskey to be produced in Cornwall in over 300 years.

The limited edition Hicks & Healey Cornish Single Malt seven-year old whiskey, from St Austell Brewery and Healey’s Cyder Farm, is also the oldest whiskey to be launched in England for more than a century.

The first bottle, signed by the producers, will be auctioned on ebay in a wooden presentation box in aid of Cornwall Community Foundation and the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust. The auction finishes at 4.30pm on Monday September 26.

Leading commentator and author of the best-selling Whisky Bible, Jim Murray, described the whiskey as “among the best debut bottlings of the last decade”.

Talking about the launch, David Healey, founder of Healey’s Cyder Farm, said: “In Cornwall we like to take our time in order to get things right. It’s taken 300 years to craft Cornwall’s first premium whiskey, and seven years to age it – and it’s well worth the wait.

St Austell Brewery MD James Staughton added: “Fine quality spirits have always gone hand-in-hand with good ale and pubs, so I was very excited when our head brewer and David Healey came up with the plan to create our own unique Cornish whiskey. We are all delighted with the results which help consolidate Cornwall’s position as a leader in the UK drinks sector.”

Limited edition Hicks & Healey Cornish Single Malt Whiskey – cask number 29 – has been bottled unfiltered at cask strength (61.3% ALC.).

Available in 50cl bottles in a wooden presentation box with two glasses exclusively from Healey’s Cyder Farm and the St Austell Brewery Visitor Centre, the whiskey is priced at £150.