Welsh whiskey receives special protected status to stop imitation and abuse

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey will announce the whiskey's UKGI status today at the Royal Welsh Show. She said the Single Malt Welsh Whiskey is widely acclaimed for its lightness of character

Single Malt Welsh Whiskey has been granted protected status (

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Single Malt Welsh Whiskey producers are in high spirits after the drink was granted protected status.

The whiskey has been registered under the UK Geographical Indication scheme, which aims to protect products against imitations and misuse.

The post-Brexit scheme offers a UK version of EU protected status, which covers Scotch whisky. Welsh whiskey is the first spirit to be protected under the UK scheme, joining Gower salt marsh lamb, Welsh leeks, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Cornish clotted cream.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey will announce the whiskey's UKGI status today at the Royal Welsh Show.

She said: "Single Malt Welsh Whiskey is widely acclaimed for its lightness of character and I am pleased to announce that it will be the first spirit protected under our UKGI scheme."

Welsh whiskey will be saved thanks to its recognition