Aber Falls Still not Protected by UKGI
As Wales distilleries moved this year to the UKGI protective umbrella, joining Ireland and Scotland, not all Welsh whiskies were inducted. One such whisky is Aber Falls. Last week the major whisky brands were handed protected geographical indication (UK GI) status under the UK’s post-Brexit.
Aber Falls is a single malt Welsh whisky owned by Halewood Artisanal Spirits and was denied UKOI protection after temporarily moving bottling to Lancashire. The failure to make the list comes in light tp jurisdiction conflicts caused by the distillery relocation outside of Wales.
According to the UK government ruling, all distilleries must be located on Welsh soil to b considered. The approved definition for single malt Welsh whisky states all distilling and bottling is required to take place in the country. Halewood relocated its distillery due to staff shortages, supply issues,s and raw material costs.
“Our Aber Falls whisky is still 100% distilled and matured at our distillery in north Wales, and uniquely uses 100% Welsh malted barley and fresh water from the Aber Falls,” they explained.
Following the start of the Russia – Ukraine war in February 2022, Halewood moved the distillery bottling to its Chorley production site. It is currently conducting the bottling process here for several of its top products including Halewood’s JJ Whitley vodka brand, Halewood’s Whitley Neill gin, and Dead Man’s Fingers rum.
Although Halewood has plans to relocate Aber Falls bottling back to Wales and will subsequently apply for UK GI status. The company however has made no concrete date for such plans.
After making a successful withdrawal from the European Union, the UK government created the UKGI to protect regional products from imitation. The protection does not extend to the EU or Northern Ireland.
The four Welsh distilleries to have gained UK GI status so far are Coles, Da Mhile, In the Welsh Wind, and Penderyn.
