Inside the award-winning distillery nestled in the Cotswolds

Temperatures have been rising throughout this summer with successive heatwaves, leaving us all in need of a drink, and fortunately, I knew just the place.

The Cotswolds Distillery at Shipston-on-Stour, just over the Oxfordshire border, is a wonderful place for a trip out come rain or shine.

It is a business that we can be proud to have on our doorstep, with it not only being England’s largest producer of whisky but also the winner of Best English Whisky and Best English Whisky Distillery at the English Whisky Awards this year.

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The Cotswolds Distillery tour. (Image: Newsquest)

Before our tour, we stopped at the on-site café for lunch, where I had a bacon bagel, served with salad.

A fresh and generous serving was exactly what was needed before an afternoon of whisky and gin tasting.

As an existing fan of Cotswolds Distillery’s whisky, I was already looking forward to finding out more about how one of my favourite drams is made.

Our guide, duty manager Daisy Kerby-Smith, began the 90-minute tour with a short film about the distillery with founder Daniel Szor.

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The Cotswolds Distillery tour. (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Szor, a New Yorker, worked in finance in London for many years before moving to the Cotswolds with his family.

Inspired by his love of whisky and the fields of barley surrounding his new home, he established the distillery in 2014.

After passing through a corridor full of the various awards won by the distillery, the tour continued with the original stills, now used to make gin.

One is named Dolly, after Dolly Parton, because she works “9 to 5” producing Cotswolds Dry Gin, which was a joke that earned a hearty laugh from our group.

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The Cotswolds Distillery tour. (Image: Newsquest)

Daisy then took us into the whisky production area, where the impressive copper stills gave a real sense of the scale involved.

She explained how the clear, high-strength spirit is produced through distillation before it is then matured in casks.

This then, of course, creates the whisky’s eventual colour and the flavour nuances which combine for its eventual character.

Our final stop before the tasting was the cask warehouse, where the rich aroma was almost as memorable as any of the whisky itself.

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The Cotswolds Distillery tour. (Image: Newsquest)

The barrels had previously held sherry, wine, bourbon or Madeira among other alcohols, and it was fascinating to see the dates and signatures marked across them, with casks set to wait several years before being collected by owners.

We then returned for the tasting, where I was able to try the full Cotswolds Distillery range of whisky.

These included the Signature Single Malt, Reserve, Founder’s Choice, Bourbon Cask, Sherry Cask and Peated Cask expressions.

All were excellent, though the Signature Single Malt and Reserve stood out as personal favourites.

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The Cotswolds Distillery tour. (Image: Newsquest)

I also tried the standard gin and, despite not usually being a gin drinker, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Daisy was an excellent host: knowledgeable, approachable and happy to answer every question put to her.

This same friendly attitude was evident across the site, from the café to the shop, where visitors can buy bottles, gifts and branded merchandise.

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The Cotswolds Distillery tour. (Image: Newsquest)

The tour is detailed without becoming overly technical, and the tasting gives visitors the chance to properly explore the range.

Whether you are a dedicated whisky drinker or simply fancy trying something different, Cotswolds Distillery makes for a memorable day out, offering a special inside look at the fascinating work that goes into each and every bottle.

With great drinks, friendly staff and beautiful countryside on its doorstep, it is easy to see why. I’ll raise a glass to that.