White Peak Distillery

Max and Claire Vaughan founded White Peak Distillery in 2016 with a stated ambition to "build the foundations for the future of craft spirits in The Peak District" — prioritising long-term quality over rushed first releases. The Wire Works building was chosen for its heritage character, its location within a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the practical advantage of the River Derwent flowing alongside, providing both water and the dramatic landscape that would inform the brand.

The distillery laid down its first casks in May 2018 — a milestone that set the clock on the three-year minimum maturation needed before a single malt could be released. The Wire Works Single Malt made its first public appearance in October 2021 as a limited expression. Subsequent releases — the Bourbon Barrel, Caduro, and Heritage Chevallier — expanded the range and attracted increasing critical attention.

The Bourbon Barrel expression's trajectory is remarkable: winning Best World Whisky at the 2025 awards and Whisky Exchange Whisky of the Year 2026 placed White Peak among the world's leading new distilleries and cemented England's credentials as a serious single malt nation. The distillery also won Best English Whisky Distillery 2024 at the English Whisky Awards.

A distinctive feature of the White Peak process is its fermentation: the distillery collects fresh, live brewer's yeast weekly from a local Peak District brewery, using living yeast rather than dried or commercial yeast cultures. This choice contributes significant fruity esters to the new make spirit, differentiating White Peak from other English producers.

White Peak draws water from the River Derwent — the same river that powered the mills of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for centuries — and from springs on the Shining Cliff hillside. Two hand-built copper pot stills are used for distillation. Fermentation uses fresh live brewer's yeast collected weekly from a local brewery, a deliberate choice that builds in fruity complexity at the fermentation stage. First casks were laid down in May 2018. Maturation is principally in ex-bourbon American oak barrels for the Bourbon Barrel expression, with first-fill Caduro casks used for the eponymous expression. Heritage Chevallier uses unpeated Heritage Chevallier barley — a heritage variety being revived by specialist maltsters. All expressions are non-chill-filtered and uncoloured.

White Peak's house style is fruit-forward and aromatic, shaped by the live yeast fermentation and the clean Derwent water. The Bourbon Barrel expression — the flagship — is elegant and fruit-led: fresh orchard fruit, vanilla, and a gentle spice backbone from American oak. The award-winning character is one of balance and precision rather than intensity. Wire Works Caduro (an IWSC Gold Medal winner — the only English single malt to win the category gold in its year) demonstrates the distillery's range, with a richer, more textured profile from the different cask seasoning. Heritage Chevallier brings the heritage barley character to the fore: biscuity, nutty malt notes with a clean, sweet finish. Shining Cliff Gin uses the distillery's water and botanicals connected to the woodland that frames the site.

Tours range from 60-minute distillery tours to 90-minute whisky tastings and warehouse tours. Unique outdoor experiences include "Whisky in the Woods" and "Yellow Wood" events held in the Shining Cliff woodland. The physical shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–6pm. Tour enquiries are handled Monday to Friday. Online shop open year-round. Address: Wire Works, Ambergate, Derbyshire DE56 2EQ. Full details at whitepeakdistillery.co.uk.