The past 20 years has seen a profusion of new whisky distilleries in the most unlikely places, from India and Australia, and even to England. And, along the way, world whisky – which is defined as any that comes from countries outside Scotland, Ireland, America, Canada and Japan – has gone from a curiosity to being available on your local high street.
Distilleries range from one-man operations such as Belgrove in Tasmania, where founder Peter Bignell uses an old tumble dryer to malt his cereal, to Taiwan’s giant Kavalan distillery, which produces millions of bottles a year. The big boys are taking an interest, too – Johnnie Walker parent company Diageo has invested in both Starward in Melbourne and Yorkshire’s Fielden.
