Birmingham has reached a historic milestone with the launch of its first-ever legal whiskey, crafted by siblings Anthony Dillon and Joanie Doyle.
After years of dedication and overcoming challenges, their distillery, Spirit of Birmingham, has officially brought the city into the global whiskey spotlight.
Founded during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spirit of Birmingham is rooted in the siblings’ passion for crafting exceptional spirits and their love for the city where they grew up. Over the past three and a half years, they have meticulously honed their craft, using English-grown, heritage varieties of barley to create a whiskey that reflects their commitment to quality and tradition.
This week, the distillery reached a significant milestone, with their first casks surpassing the required three-year maturation mark for whiskey. This achievement makes Spirit of Birmingham the city’s first legal whiskey distillery, an accomplishment that is not only monumental for the business but also for Birmingham as a whole.
Anthony Dillon expressed his pride in the project, saying: “We wanted to create something truly special, not just for ourselves, but for the city we love. It’s incredible to see our whiskey finally come of age. This has been a labour of love, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring Birmingham its first legal whiskey.”
Despite the regulatory complexities of the spirits industry, which is often dominated by large corporations, Anthony and Joanie successfully navigated the licensing process. Their perseverance has paid off, with Spirit of Birmingham already winning four prestigious awards, establishing itself as a rising star in the English whiskey scene.
