Whittaker's Distillery

Toby and Jane Whittaker converted a 1950s pig shed on their Dacre Banks farm into the original distillery in 2015. The choice of location was intentional: Nidderdale's pure spring water, the cool Yorkshire climate ideal for slow maturation, and the farming heritage of the region all aligned with the couple's ambition for a genuinely place-rooted spirit.

Gin production launched in 2018 under the Whittaker's Gin label. The range quickly expanded to encompass over a dozen expressions — from the flagship Original and Navy Strength through seasonal, fruit, and limited editions — establishing Whittaker's as one of North Yorkshire's most creative gin producers. The whisky side followed: the first barrel of Single Malt English Whisky was laid down in November 2019, making it the first whisky ever produced in the Yorkshire Dales. The minimum three-year maturation period meant the first release came no earlier than late 2022, with subsequent bottlings continuing to be released in strictly limited quantities as the young stock matures.

The Harewell Spring provides the distillery's water — a soft, clean limestone-filtered source from the Nidderdale hills. Barley is sourced from Poplars Farm in Ferrensby, providing a direct agricultural connection to the final spirit. Distillation uses traditional copper pot stills. Whisky maturation takes place on the farm in a mix of cask types, with the Nidderdale climate providing natural temperature cycling through the seasons. Gin production uses botanicals selected partly for their connection to the local landscape. All products are non-chill-filtered and free of artificial additives or colouring.

Whittaker's English Whisky reflects the Yorkshire landscape and terroir: clean, mineral water, Yorkshire barley, and careful small-batch distillation producing a spirit with delicate fruit, gentle malt, and soft vanilla notes from oak maturation. As a young distillery, each bottling represents a snapshot of maturing stock with the character evolving year by year. The gins are characterised by careful botanical selection and small-batch precision: the Original Edition is soft and floral, the Navy Strength is bold and juniper-forward, and the seasonal expressions — Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Camomile Lawn — reflect the changing character of the Nidderdale landscape through the year.

Distillery tours are available, offering a close look at the working small distillery and the farm surroundings. An on-site shop and café serve visitors, with freshly made pizzas available Wednesday to Saturday, 12 noon–5.30pm. Contact: 01423 781842 or enquiries@whittakersgin.com. Full tour and visiting details at whittakersdistillery.com.