Adnams

Adnams whisky comes from a name better known to many for beer, Adnams Brewery in Southwold, Suffolk, but in recent years, the company has earned serious recognition as a quality English distiller. Building on over 150 years of brewing heritage, Adnams opened its Copper House Distillery in 2010, producing a range of spirits including gin, vodka, and, most importantly, a distinctive line of whiskies that reflect the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship and local provenance.

One of the key differences between Adnams and many whisky producers is that all production begins in the brewery. Adnams controls the process from grain to glass, starting with locally grown barley, rye, wheat, and oats sourced from farms across East Anglia. This grain is mashed and brewed using Adnams’ own brewing equipment before being distilled in small batches in their hand-beaten copper pot stills, designed and built by Carl GmbH in Germany.

The distillery’s location by the Suffolk coast influences more than just its water source. While the whisky is matured inland in bonded warehouses, the sea air of Southwold is part of the brand’s identity, and Adnams often draws inspiration from the maritime character of its home town.

Adnams produces a variety of whisky styles, including single malt, triple grain, and rye whisky. The Adnams Single Malt is made entirely from East Anglian barley and aged in new French oak casks, which impart vanilla sweetness, gentle spice, and a rich golden colour. The Triple Grain Whisky combines barley, wheat, and oats for a softer, creamier mouthfeel, while Adnams Rye Malt Whisky, made from 75% rye and 25% barley, offers a spicier, more robust flavour profile.

Maturation is a defining aspect of Adnams whisky character. Unlike many Scottish producers who use predominantly ex-bourbon barrels, Adnams often opts for new oak casks from France or America, allowing the fresh wood to contribute pronounced vanilla, toffee, and spice notes even in younger whiskies. This approach results in spirits that show depth and complexity after relatively short maturation periods.

Small batch production allows for experimentation, and Adnams has released limited editions finished in casks that previously held sherry, port, and even their own beers, adding layers of flavour and tying the whisky back to their brewing heritage.

Flavour profiles vary depending on the expression, but common Adnams whisky traits include a rich, rounded sweetness, notes of honey and soft caramel, orchard fruit brightness, and a gentle warmth of spice from the oak. The rye-based expressions tend toward bolder spice, pepper, and clove notes, while the triple grain bottlings offer a silkier texture with hints of vanilla and cream.

Our Adnams Whisky selection includes core expressions like the Single Malt, Triple Grain, and Rye Malt, alongside limited editions and special cask finishes that showcase the distillery’s innovation. Whether you’re exploring English whisky for the first time or adding a distinctive coastal spirit to your collection, Adnams delivers a combination of heritage, local sourcing, and modern creativity that makes it a standout in the rapidly growing English whisky scene.