Investigating peat use in English and Welsh whisky production
Background
England and Wales have seen their whisky industries expand in size and production over the past 15 years. While the role of peat is well-understood in Scottish whisky distilling, the prevalence of peat in English and Welsh whiskies was still unclear.
Defra asked ADAS to undertake exploratory research to understand:
- how much peat is used in England and Wales for whisky production
- where peat used for English and Welsh whisky is sourced from
- how the English and Welsh whisky sector might be impacted by a sales ban on peat
Actions taken
For this research, the ADAS Policy and Economics team undertook:
- A high-level literature review on the rise of English and Welsh whisky production, alongside peat extraction within those areas.
- Quantitative surveys to quantify peat usage among whisky distilleries and maltsters.
- In-depth interviews with those who used peat in their production.
- A roundtable discussion with expert trade associations to evaluate the findings.
Results
English and Welsh whisky distilleries tend to be small in scale, each with a unique experimental or innovative approach to whisky production. Of the 52 whisky distilleries in England or Wales, 14 completed the survey.
Of those 14:
- 21% use peat in their whisky production
- 64% stated they did not use peat due to environmental issues
Distilleries used 7,000 tonnes of peat in Scotch whisky production in 2023, while the volume used in English and Welsh whisky remains unquantified. They source nearly all peat for whisky from select sites in Scotland, extracting very little in England and Wales.
Specialist companies, mostly in Scotland, extract peat rather than distillers or maltsters. Distillers often lack knowledge about the origin, licensing, or environmental impact of the peat they use, but are increasingly aware of peat’s wider role in carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. Few have sustainability plans that include peat.
No viable alternatives to peat currently exist that can replicate its unique flavour. A potential ban on peat could impact branding and production, although distillers are more concerned about broader issues like climate change and barley supply.
Peat use in English and Welsh whisky is limited but symbolically significant. While the industry is open to innovation and sustainability, more data and coordinated policy engagement are needed to guide future decisions on peat use and its environmental implications.
Read the full report
