Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery: The Story of Filey Bay Single Malt
Updated: 19 hours ago
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery makes Filey Bay English single malt on the North Yorkshire coast. It describes itself as a field to bottle operation, growing its own barley and using its own water source.
In this guide
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Spirit of Yorkshire at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery | Spirit of Yorkshire |
Country / region | North Yorkshire, England |
Owner / producer | Spirit of Yorkshire |
History | See the detailed researched history in this article. |
Whisky identity | Yorkshire-grown barley and the Filey Bay label |
Visiting | Check the current official visiting arrangements before travelling. |
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Who and where
The distillery was founded in 2016 by friends David Thompson and Tom Mellor, according to Whisky-Online. The stillhouse is in the village of Hunmanby, near Filey Bay. The mash tun and washbacks are nearby at Mellor's Wold Top Brewery. It is described as Yorkshire's first legal single malt whisky distillery.
The barley
Trade listings state that all the barley used for Filey Bay is grown on co-founder Tom Mellor's family farm, which specialises in malting barley. The distillery's own social posts describe it as regeneratively farmed barley from the family farm, also used for a Wold Top single estate lager.
How it is made
Distillation takes place in two large stills from Forsyth's of Rothes. The spirit still works with a four plate rectifying column. The late Dr Jim Swan advised the distillery, and its first spirit ran in 2016. The range still includes whisky matured using his STR (shaving, toasting, recharring) technique.
Releases
The single malt is named Filey Bay after the local beauty spot. The Inaugural Release appeared in late 2019. A Sherry Cask Reserve series has been released each autumn since 2020. The distillery says the seventh bottling, made from 2,000 bottles matured in first fill ex Moscatel and ex Pedro Ximenez casks, is the final one in that series.
Field to bottle
A June 2026 press release describes Spirit of Yorkshire as Yorkshire's first single malt whisky distillery and a collaboration between farmer and brewer Tom Mellor and business partner David Thompson. It says the distillery grows all of its barley on its own farm in the Yorkshire Wolds and draws water from aquifers beneath the farm.
Launch: distilling began in 2016, with Cask 001 filled in June 2016
Stills: a four-plate copper column still working with two of the largest Forsyth pot stills operating in the UK outside Scotland, which the company believes is the only whisky in England made this way
Barley: the company says it is one of only a handful of distilleries worldwide using 100% homegrown barley
Recognition: named one of the top 50 spirits producers in the world by the IWSC in 2025
2026 release: Filey Bay 10th Anniversary Special Release, a blend of ex-Bourbon and ex-Madeira cask whisky including spirit from Cask 001, limited to 2,016 bottles at 49.9% ABV
Sources and gaps
Sources: Whisky-Online profile (26 February 2026), spiritofyorkshire.com (About page, social feed and farm pages as indexed in search, read 20 October 2026) and trade listings. The official story pages did not load, so capacity, ownership, visitor details, ABVs and the full range are not verified. Cover image to be added by Filip. Planned slug: spirit-of-yorkshire-distillery.
Further source read on 21 October 2026: Spirit of Yorkshire press release of 19 June 2026.
What makes Spirit of Yorkshire distinctive?
Yorkshire-grown barley and the Filey Bay label.
Spirit of Yorkshire whisky bottles and releases
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Filey Bay Flagship | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | Yorkshire-grown barley and the Filey Bay label |
Filey Bay Sherry Cask Reserve | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | Yorkshire-grown barley and the Filey Bay label |
Filey Bay STR Finish | NAS / release varies | Check bottle | Yorkshire-grown barley and the Filey Bay label |
The table records named expressions, not live stock. Bottle strength and cask treatment can vary by market and release. Always consult the producer.
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Spirit of Yorkshire
Where is Spirit of Yorkshire based?
North Yorkshire, England.
Who owns Spirit of Yorkshire?
Spirit of Yorkshire.
What is notable about Spirit of Yorkshire?
Yorkshire-grown barley and the Filey Bay label.
Which bottles does Spirit of Yorkshire have?
Filey Bay Flagship, Filey Bay Sherry Cask Reserve, Filey Bay STR Finish. Releases and availability change.
Can you visit Spirit of Yorkshire?
Check the distillery's official visitor or tour information before making travel plans.
Sources and editorial checks
The original history, references and research remain in this guide. Whisky range and visitor information may change.
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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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