Birmingham has reached a milestone by launching its first ever official whiskey, created 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 world whiskey spotlight.
Founded in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spirit of Birmingham focuses on the passion of its siblings to make alternative spirits and their love for the city they grew up in. Over the past three and a half years, they have carefully honed their craft, using English-grown barley varieties, to create a whiskey that reflects their commitment to quality and tradition.
This week, the distillery reached a milestone, when its first casks passed the whiskey’s three-year maturation mark. This success made Spirit of Birmingham the city’s first official whiskey distillery, an achievement that is not only memorable for the business but for Birmingham as a whole.
Anthony Dillon expressed his pride in the project, saying: “We wanted to create something really special, not just for us, but for the city we love. It’s amazing to see our whiskey mature. This has been a labor of love, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring Birmingham its first official whiskey.”
Despite the difficulties of regulating the spirits industry, which is often dominated by large corporations, Anthony and Joanie successfully navigated the licensing process. Their patience has paid off, as Spirit of Birmingham has already won four prestigious awards, establishing itself as a rising star in the English whiskey game.