Cotswolds Distillery has been crowned, for the second year in a row, the most popular whisky distillery in the UK and Ireland in The Cask Connoisseur 2024 Whisky Index.
During this booming age of whisky tourism, the team at The Cask Connoisseur have carefully examined the metrics to decide which are the best whisky attractions for visitors.
Google ratings, TripAdvisor reviews, and social media following on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube, were all scrutinised. Of the 298 whisky distilleries across the UK and Ireland, the winners are Cotswolds Distillery.
Every distillery was carefully examined and awarded a total score out of 3,576, which represents its ‘distillery popularity index’, with Cotswolds Distillery awarded an incredible 3,217.
A Testament to Excellence
Cotswolds Distillery stands tall against very tough rivals, including Dublin’s premier distillery Teeling Distillery, which took second place, and traditional Scottish distillery Bruichladdich which came third.
The beautiful Welsh distillery Penderyn was also featured, coming in eleventh place on the list.
Commenting on this remarkable achievement, Daniel Szor, the founder of Cotswolds Distillery, expressed immense pride, stating, “I am so proud to receive this amazing accolade. To be voted the most popular whisky distillery in the UK and Ireland two years in a row is such an honour and reflects the dedication of our team here at the distillery. We have worked hard to increase customer engagement through digital channels and the results speak for themselves.”
History of Cotswolds Distillery
Daniel Szor founded the distillery in 2014 with the dream of creating Outstanding Natural Spirits in the picturesque Cotswolds countryside.
Based in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the distillery is a true temple of quality and flavour, with producing excellence its highest concern.
When guests visit Cotswolds Distillery, they are offered a wide variety of enriching experiences, from the award-winning Tour and Tasting at £25 per person to Blending Masterclasses and Virtual Tastings at £100 per person.
A Hub of Hospitality
A new visitor centre opened in May 2019, which includes a shop and café, featuring mouth-watering delicacies made from locally sourced produce. Guests can enjoy a selection of Cotswolds Dry Gin and Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky cocktails, as well as losing themselves in a culinary wonderland.
In 2022, Cotswolds Distillery went through a major expansion, becoming the largest producer of English whisky. The new production site is now four times larger than the previous one and has the capacity to produce 50,000 litres of pure alcohol per year, in order to meet the growing demand for English whisky both at home and abroad.
Pioneering Sustainability
Cotswolds Distillery is also planning to install a new wetlands area later this year.
The wetlands area will cover a nearly two acres site and it will filter three-quarters of the effluent produced during whisky making, whilst reducing the local road traffic and tanker transportation. Also, there will be a new entrance, pedestrianised areas and more outdoor space added, improving the overall visitor experience.
Since 2014, Cotswolds Distillery has collected a wide variety of awards, not only for its exquisite produce spirits but also as a venue. The distillery has won multiple TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards from 2020 to 2023, which also contributes to establishing it as one of the top destinations for whisky lovers.
Most recent achievements include the gold award from American Distilling Institute for its Harvest Series Flaxen Vale, in the liquid and packaging categories. Also, Cotswolds Distillery Bourbon Cask Single Malt Whisky whisky won gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, which was the only UK product to take gold in the whisky category.
