Whisky with Roots: The Sustainable Story Behind Our Oak Casks

Forest Whisky’s English oak casks begin in a climate-positive forest and end in our Peak District cellars.

The Story Starts in the Forest

At Forest Distillery, we believe that whisky should tell a deeper story, not just one of flavour, but of place, provenance, and responsibility. That’s why our casks are made from English oak sourced from the Norbury Park Estate in Staffordshire, one of the UK’s most sustainable and innovative woodlands.

Since 2009, Norbury Park has been rewilded and replanted with over 100 different species of tree, always in diverse combinations. This mixed planting method ensures trees don’t compete for the same nutrients, which not only improves biodiversity but also enhances long-term forest health.

Thanks to this approach, the estate now achieves climate positivity, meaning it removes more CO₂ from the atmosphere than it emits. This is made possible through sustainable land use, tree planting, and responsible forestry practices.

Scientific Innovation at BIFoR-FACE

Norbury Park is also home to the BIFoR-FACE project - the world’s only open-air CO₂ enrichment experiment in a temperate forest. It studies, in real time, how woodland ecosystems react to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

This isn’t just a beautiful forest... it’s a global hub for environmental science, with data that helps refine climate change models. We’re proud that our casks have their roots in a place doing such vital work.

Sustainable Processing at Shelmore Timber

Our oak is processed at Shelmore Timber, a traditional sawmill located within the estate itself. Each tree is carefully selected and logged, with every trunk traceable to the exact patch of forest it came from.

Once harvested, the timber for our casks is air-dried naturally for 18 months, allowing the wood to mature with the seasons. Wood used for presentation boxes is kiln-dried. Nothing is wasted - thinner cuts feed the site’s biomass boilers, sawdust becomes animal bedding or compost, and other offcuts go for firewood.

If you’re lucky enough to visit, you might even meet Clarence the robin, a local favourite who eats worms straight from the hands of the Shelmore team.

Handcrafted at England’s Last Cooperage

Once seasoned, the oak is sent to England’s last remaining cooperage in Yorkshire, where it’s transformed by hand into casks using traditional fire-toasting methods. It’s a rare and dying craft and one that gives our whisky its signature character.

Our casks return to rest in the cool, high-altitude cellars of The Cat & Fiddle, our distillery nestled in Macclesfield Forest. Here, the spirit breathes in the mountain air and matures slowly, with time, tradition, and place shaping every drop.

A Limited Single Malt: Coming Soon

Later this year, we’ll be releasing an extremely limited-edition single malt, matured in these remarkable English oak casks. It’s a whisky that captures the whole story: from seedling to spirit.

To be first in line when it launches, join our Whisky Club on our website for early access and exclusive updates.