A century after the English ceded whiskey to the Scots and Irish, an English single-malt is going on sale -- with a label showing St. George slaying the dragon.

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David Fitt, distiller at St. George's Distillery in Norfolk, said the brew is already attracting attention north of the border, the Daily Mail reported. This includes angry e-mails -- one read "You've betrayed Scotland" -- but the firm says it is already shipping about 500 bottles a month north.

The English Whisky Co., which operates the distillery, produced its first barrels in 2006. But the drink could not be called whiskey until it had been in the cask for three years, so the production so far has been called single-malt spirits. The first whiskey is set to hit stores Dec. 16, in time for both Christmas and Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year.

John Kaylor, who heads the Perthshire branch of the Tartan Army, has risen to the bait.

"It's flattering that the English want to copy us but what's next, Shakespeare shortbread and the Lake Windermere monster?" he asked. "No true Tartan Army member would ever wet their lips with English whiskey."