The Penderyn Whisky Distillery, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons in South Wales is finally putting Welsh whisky back on the map. It is the only distillery in Wales, and the unique taste of the whisky that is produced there is certainly holding its own against its better known Scottish and Irish cousins.

Just over ten years ago, a group of friends gathered together for drinks at a pub near Aberdare. Conversation flowed, but the friends all lamented the lack of a real Welsh whisky, when the other Celtic nations so clearly had their own spirit identity. And so it was that out of this evening emerged a dream; a dream to reignite the sparks of a Welsh heritage and to combine it with a unique and heartfelt product. It took a lot of determination, a passion to revive an all but lost tradition, and a nose for a good spirit, but the Welsh Whisky Company, now known as Penderyn, was born.

Whisky History

Until the turn of the twentieth century, there had been a rich tradition for distilling and producing spirits in Wales. The monks of Bardsey Island were thought to have refined the science of distillation in the middle ages and the industry thrived as hard working people looked for antidotes to the daily grind of rural life.

One well known distillery was founded in Pembrokeshire at the turn of the 18^th century, and was owned by the Williams family. Evan Williams immigrated to the USA soon after and opened his own distillery in Kentucky in 1783, which still produces prize bourbon today. It is also believed that the world famous Jack Daniel has Welsh blood, as well as American bourbon, flowing through his veins.

However, during the mid 1800’s the temperance movement swept across the country and drinking alcohol became frowned upon. Alcohol production, sales, distribution and purchase were prohibited in many areas. By the turn of the century there was only one commercial whisky distillery remaining in Wales, near the market town of Bala. But, by 1910, the fate of that too had been sealed by the sober society of temperance.

When the first bottles of Penderyn were sold in 2004, it was the first commercially available pure Welsh whisky available for almost 100 years.

Whisky Magic

But it’s not only its rarity that makes Penderyn whisky special – the main difference is the method used to distill the spirit, and this was crucial from the beginning.

The key to this magic is all in the still that is used for the distillation process. A still is a crucial part of whisky making kit and Penderyn’s was especially designed by Dr David Faraday, a descendant of the pioneering Victorian scientist Michael Faraday. The Penderyn still is a unique single pot copper still with two columns which creates the strongest single malt spirit cut in the world.

The location of the Penderyn distillery is what also adds to the spirit’s unique flavour and depth. The village was chosen for its accessibility to a pure water source, an essential consideration when producing quality whisky.

Another crucial part of whisky making, is the choice of casks for maturation. After the initial distillation has produced flavour and character, much of the depth and style, and the final colour of the whisky, is derived from the cask as the liquid draws out colour and sweetness of previous spirits from the wood.

Penderyn choose two types of the best quality casks for their processes. The first come from the American Bourbon producers, including some from the Evan Williams distillery. To finish the maturation, the whisky is then transferred to barrels that have previously held a dark and rich Portuguese Maderia wine, and it is this that gives Penderyn’s flagship whisky its final intensities.

Penderyn is one of the smallest distilleries in the UK, employing just 23 people, and it is also one of the few remaining independent whisky producers. Although Penderyn produce award winning whiskies that are distributed across the world, the scale of production is small, with just one cask a day of distilled spirit put into the warehouse for ageing.

Penderyn’s whisky already has several international awards to its name and the company have recently expanded their range to include gin, vodka and a Welsh cream liqueur. The Special Reserve Gin has recently been given a gold award in the preeminent International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Find out more about Penderyn’s Welsh Whisky at www.penderyn.wales

Black Mountain in autumn
Brecon Beacons
Near Llandeilo
South
Scenery