A Time-Honoured Partnership: Our Barley and Warminster Maltings

There’s a quiet rhythm to the land around our distillery — a sense of time and place shaped not just by nature, but by the hands and traditions of those who’ve worked it for generations. At the heart of that story is our barley. And at the heart of our barley’s transformation is Warminster Maltings.

England’s Oldest Working Floor Maltings

Founded in 1855, Warminster Maltings is more than a supplier - it’s a custodian of an ancient craft. As England’s oldest working floor maltings, the site continues to produce malt using traditional techniques that have all but disappeared in modern industry. It’s one of only a handful in the UK still practising floor malting — a labour-intensive, meticulous method that delivers exceptional character, depth, and texture to the malt.

What Is Floor Malting?

While most modern malt is produced via industrial drums or pneumatic systems, floor malting is a craft that involves spreading soaked barley across a stone floor, where it is turned by hand with wooden tools. This process encourages even germination and allows the maltster to instinctively read the barley, adjusting by feel, scent, and eye rather than automation.

At Warminster, the maltsters use age-old skills passed down over centuries. They give each batch individual care, gently coaxing out flavour and enzyme potential through careful timing, airflow, and turning. It’s not the fastest method, but it’s the most authentic - and, in our opinion, the most flavourful.

Grown on the Estate. Malted with Tradition.

One of the things that makes our relationship with Warminster Maltings so special is that we don’t just buy malted barley from them - we send them our own grain. Our barley is grown right here, on the estate surrounding our distillery, and delivered a few miles down the road to be malted by hand on Warminster’s historic floors.

We’re proud to be part of a growing group of English whisky distilleries that do the same, supplying Warminster with their own barley to be traditionally malted. This model is rooted in localism, transparency, and collaboration and helps preserve a valuable link between farmer, maltster, and distiller. 

We wish Warmister Maltings a fantastic Celebrations2025, as they celebrate 170 years in the malt-making business and the 24 years it took to complete the maltings' repair and restoration.

A Shared Philosophy

We chose Warminster Maltings not only for their remarkable craft but also because they share our values: slowness, integrity, and a reverence for tradition. Like us, they believe that doing things the old-fashioned way is not a liability - it’s a badge of honour.

When you enjoy a dram of our whisky, you’re not just tasting spirit. You’re tasting the field, the floor, the craft, and the connection between us and one of England’s great malting houses.