Welcome to Yorkshire
Inspiration • August 13th, 2026
|The Spirit of Yorkshire distillery recently marked a significant milestone, celebrating ten years of whisky production with a sell-out Open Weekend. This special event took place on the 1st and 2nd of August 2026, drawing in over 600 attendees eager to learn about the distilling process and sample some unique whiskies.
Decade of Distilling
During the Open Weekend, visitors were treated to a variety of engaging activities, including talks, tours, masterclasses, and tastings. The event was themed around the “Decade of Distilling,” highlighting the distillery's journey from field to bottle.
Jenni Ashwood, the marketing director at Spirit of Yorkshire, expressed her excitement about the weekend, stating,
“Our ‘Decade of Distilling’ themed Open Weekend was amazing! People were excited to hear our field to bottle story and to taste the two anniversary whiskies, Filey Bay 10 Year Old Single Cask ‘Decade of Distilling’ and Filey Bay 10th Anniversary Special Release, plus our annual Yorkshire Day bottling. The feedback we had was fantastic.”
Visitor Experiences
Feedback from visitors was overwhelmingly positive.
Geoffrey Allen, who made the journey from South Cave, shared his appreciation in an email after the event:
“Many thanks for creating and presenting a wonderful Open Day celebrating your Tenth Anniversary and showcasing your Ten Year whisky. The choice of drinks at the Masterclass that started with Project 001 was inspirational, and the range of exhibitors complemented the day’s events. I have to make a special mention of the SoY team whose enthusiasm shone through whilst they never stopped working.”
Another attendee, Paul Backhouse, also praised the event, saying,
“I have forgotten how many of these I have attended over the years, but I have to say this is the best one I have attended. My thanks to you and all of the team for making it such an enjoyable event.”
Such comments reflect the distillery's commitment to providing a memorable experience for its visitors.
A Commitment to Quality
Established in 2016, Spirit of Yorkshire is known as Yorkshire’s first whisky distillery. It stands out not only for its location but also for its unique approach to whisky production. The distillery is a Single Estate operation, meaning they grow all the barley used for their whisky on-site, employing regenerative farming practices to ensure sustainability. This commitment to quality and sustainability has earned them recognition, as they were named one of the top 50 spirits producers in the world by the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in 2025.
