Henstone Distillery: Shropshire Whisky, History and Dingle Farm Visits
Henstone is an English distillery whose single malt story began in Oswestry and now continues at Dingle Farm. Its copper still, Hilda, produces a varied spirits range, while the whisky releases explore bourbon, sherry and other cask influences.
The move matters when planning a visit. The producer's current address is Dingle Farm, Trewern, Shropshire, SY21 8EG, rather than the old Oswestry address still found in earlier research.
Henstone at a glance
Key fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Current location | Dingle Farm, Trewern, Shropshire, SY21 8EG |
Established | 2017, originally in Oswestry |
Founders | Chris and Alexandra Toller |
Ownership change | Mike Harris acquired 50% in the 2023 restructuring |
Current site | Relocation to Dingle Farm took place in 2024 |
Still | Hilda, a 1,000-litre German-built Kothe still |
First single malt release | 23 January 2021, according to the producer |
Visitor access | Bookable tours; working-farm arrangements apply |
Research checked 26 October 2026. Production plans, visitor schedules and bottle availability can change.
In this guide
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Henstone history: Oswestry, first casks and a move
Chris Toller's account describes the venture growing from an opportunity in 2016. Hilda was commissioned in November 2017, and the producer dates its first whisky cask to 10 January 2018. The first single malt followed in January 2021.
A 2023 restructuring brought Mike Harris into the business. Henstone subsequently moved its equipment and stock to the farm, with the founder describing a demanding rebuilding period during 2024. The current visitor site is therefore not simply the old Oswestry premises under a new postcode.
The name itself combines references to the original founders' homes: The Hen and Chickens and Stone House. It is a family-business name, not the name of a historic whisky district.
Who is behind Henstone?
Chris and Alexandra Toller established the business, and members of their family have since joined it. The official account records Mike Harris's 50% investment and the relocation to his farm on Long Mountain.
The production team works across whisky and other spirits. That broader range is worth recognising, but gin, rum and the separately described Old Dog corn liquor should not all be relabelled as single malt whisky.
Hilda, malted barley and cask selection
The producer's whisky account begins with malted barley, mashing and fermentation before distillation in Hilda. The 1,000-litre still was made by Kothe in Germany and supplied through Ryebeck. Its flexibility helps explain the distillery's wider spirits portfolio.
For whisky, the cask is a key point of difference between releases. The ex-bourbon product page names American whiskey cask sources and states that its whisky is bottled without added colour or chill filtration.
Maturation details have evolved. An early whisky fully matured in Oloroso wood is not necessarily the same release as a later bourbon-matured whisky with an Oloroso finish. Exact editions, strengths and cask treatments need to be read together rather than combined into one timeless recipe.
Henstone whisky range
The examples below distinguish current product descriptions from the history of earlier releases. Batch details and packaging can change, and no independent Whisky Clan tasting score is implied.
Henstone Single Malt English Whisky, Ex-Bourbon Cask Aged
Bottle detail | Henstone Single Malt English Whisky, Ex-Bourbon Cask Aged |
|---|---|
Strength | 43.8% ABV on the checked product page |
Maturation | Previously used American whiskey casks |
Presentation | Described by the producer as a single-cask release |
Age | Do not infer a label age from the distillery's first production date |
Henstone Oloroso whisky
Bottle detail | Henstone Oloroso whisky |
|---|---|
Strength | 46% ABV for the checked current listing |
Current description | More than three years in bourbon wood followed by 17 months in an Oloroso quarter cask |
Edition caution | Different from earlier fully Oloroso-matured releases |
Other Henstone single malt releases
Bottle detail | Other Henstone single malt releases |
|---|---|
Pedro Ximénez | 46% in the producer's range description; verify the exact release |
Ex-peated cask | 46%; influence comes from previously used peated-whisky wood |
Ex-red-wine cask | 46% in the range description |
The ex-peated expression should not automatically be described as whisky made from peat-smoked malt. Cask influence and the treatment of the original barley are different facts.
Limited batches and whisky recognition
Henstone also releases small batches under its Red Range. Strength and outturn are edition-specific, so a number from one bottle should not become the default for every Red Range release.
In his September 2026 account, Chris Toller reports a Great Taste star for the ex-bourbon whisky. The business's separate Gin Guide distinctions concern the distillery and gin context; they are not medals for every whisky listed here.
Visiting Henstone Distillery
Henstone's tour page offers booked visits for up to ten people, including the production area, warehouse and tastings. At the 26 October 2026 check it listed Friday tickets at £17.50 and Saturday tickets at £20. Prices and dates must be reconfirmed before booking.
This is a working farm setting. The producer advises suitable flat footwear and warm clothing. Use the Dingle Farm address and contact the team about access requirements rather than travelling to an old listing in Oswestry.
Explore more English whisky producers
White Peak Distillery. A Derbyshire comparison with another distinctive stillhouse.
Cotswolds Distillery. Explore another English single malt producer.
Cooper King Distillery. A Yorkshire distillery with a different production approach.
Spirit of Yorkshire. The producer behind Filey Bay.
The English Distillery. A wider comparison in Norfolk, not a neighbouring site.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Henstone still at the original Oswestry address?
No. Its own account dates the move to 2024 and gives the current address as Dingle Farm, Trewern, Shropshire, SY21 8EG.
When did Henstone first release single malt?
The producer dates the first public release to 23 January 2021, after the first cask was filled in January 2018.
Are all Oloroso releases identical?
No. The producer describes both earlier full maturation and later finishing. Use the exact release's specification.
Can I book a tour?
Yes. Tours are advertised for selected dates at Dingle Farm. Check the live schedule, prices and access arrangements before travelling.
Sources and photograph credits
External references are grouped here. Producer tasting descriptions, where included, are identified separately from independent Whisky Clan reviews.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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