Two Yorkshire Distilleries Just Made English Whisky History

Saturday, 18 July 2026 at 09:59

Never miss whisky news, reviews, and new releases again.

The English whisky scene has a first on its hands. Cooper King Distillery and Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery have unveiled a whisky together. Meet Many Hands Yorkshire Blended Malt Whisky: the first blended malt from Yorkshire and the first whisky born from a fully open collaboration between two English distilleries.

This new whisky is a limited release born from an unexpected turn of events. The story of Many Hands began in 2021, when Cooper King Distillery’s copper pot still suddenly broke down. With production at risk of grinding to a halt for an extended period, the distillery needed help fast.

A helping hand from a neighboring distillery

The solution came from across the Yorkshire Wolds. Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery opened the doors of its Hunmanby site, where teams from both distilleries spent a day making spirit together on Spirit of Yorkshire’s copper pot stills.

What began as a friendly favor between two neighboring distilleries ultimately became a landmark first for the English whisky industry.

The first English blended malt of its kind

The malt spirit from Cooper King Distillery and Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery was filled separately into complementary sister casks. The spirits then matured side by side for four years under the same roof.

After maturation, the contents of the casks were married. The result is a Yorkshire blended malt that brings together Cooper King’s fruity, nutty character with Spirit of Yorkshire’s honeyed, spicy notes.

According to Head Distiller Abbie Jaume, Many Hands shows what’s possible when distilleries openly share knowledge, whisky, and ideas.

How does Many Hands Yorkshire Blended Malt Whisky taste?

According to the distilleries, this special English blended whisky has a warm, approachable profile made for sharing. Tasting notes below:

Nose: Aromas of honeycomb, peach cobbler, and blackcurrant leaf.
Palate: Notes of biscuit, roasted cashews, and freshly cracked black pepper.
Finish: Warming, with buttered rye toast drizzled with honey.

The whisky is bottled at 48% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Limited release of just 1,922 bottles

Many Hands arrives as an exclusive summer release from Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and Cooper King Distillery. Bottles are available from the distilleries for 95 pounds.

From that price, 1 pound from every bottle sold will be donated to the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust. The charity supports apprenticeships for young people in rural areas and works to protect important British landscapes.

The whisky is available while stocks last. Enthusiasts hoping to secure this historic first for English whisky should move quickly.

Whisky Offers from Whisky Exhange in week 29

Hibiki Harmony 2021 Limited Edition Design	Reduced from 550 to 300 pounds
Lagavulin 10 Year Old	Reduced from 94,50 to 74,50 pounds
Mortlach Special Releases 2022	Reduced from 150 to 110 pounds
Rampur 2015 European Exclusive	Reduced from 115 to 87,95 pounds

Discover more whisky news here

FAQ

What is Many Hands Yorkshire Blended Malt Whisky?
Many Hands is the first blended malt whisky from Yorkshire. This limited release was created through an open collaboration between Cooper King Distillery and Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery.
How does Many Hands taste?
The whisky offers aromas of honeycomb, peach cobbler, and blackcurrant leaf. The palate features notes of biscuit, roasted cashews, and black pepper, followed by a warming finish with rye bread, butter, and honey.
How many bottles are available and what does it cost?
Only 1,922 bottles have been released. The whisky costs £95, and £1 from every bottle sold is donated to the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.