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Penderyn (Penderin) – the first Welsh whiskey, which began to be produced in Wales in the last hundred years. The distillery of the same name is owned by the private company Welsh Whiskey and has been operating since 2000. Despite its youth, the brand is popular in the US, France, Australia and Taiwan. Brand drinks are valued for the special bouquet that whiskey acquires during aging in Madeira barrels.
Historical information
Throughout the 1903th century, whiskey production flourished in Wales, but the active struggle of the English church against the use of alcohol led to the fact that the last distillery closed in XNUMX. Subsequently, world wars and new requirements for the whiskey aging period prevented the industry from reviving – it grew from two to three years. As a result, for a long time there were no people willing to risk large investments and enter into difficult competition with Scottish manufacturers.
That changed in 1998 when entrepreneur Alan Evans met with friends at the bar of the Glancynon Inn and offered them a uniquely designed alembic that had not been used by the owner and was up for sale. The equipment was bought, but it was not possible to immediately start whiskey production – it took two years to find an investor, who was Nigel Shot, who lived in the vicinity of the village of Penderyn.
The plant was built in the Brecon Beacons National Park near the lighthouse, where springs of clean water flowed. Invited expert Jim Swan set out to make a product that would be fundamentally different from Scotch whiskey. The task was facilitated by the fact that the distiller purchased by Evans made it possible to obtain spirits with a special taste. It was decided to carry out additional aging of whiskey in Madeira barrels, which brought nutty and wine notes to the drink.
The first bottling of Penderyn Madeira Finish whiskey took place in March 2004 and took place in the presence of the Prince of Wales. The brand aroused great interest among connoisseurs and experts, the batch was sold out within one day. In the future, production only gained momentum, and soon the demand became so great that the plant’s capacity was not enough. In 2013, the owners purchased new equipment: they installed additional fermentation tanks and launched another distillation unit. Now the distillery Penderyn produces 300 thousand liters of whiskey per year.
Production features
Until 2014, the company purchased grout from the brewery, but now the entire process takes place on site. The production uses the resources of the source at the Brecon lighthouses, where the water is naturally filtered through deposits of basalt and limestone. After distillation, alcohols with a strength of 92% with a light structure and fruity aromas are obtained, which are diluted to 62,4% before aging. Warehouses of the enterprise are designed to store four thousand barrels.
Awards
Whiskey Penderyn received gold medals in competitions:
- World Whisky Masters Europe Premium — 2015–2018
- Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial — 2018;
- Whiskies Of The World Malt Non-Bourbon Cask — 2018.
Interesting Facts
- The design of the alembic was developed by David Faraday, a descendant of the famous physicist-inventor Michael Faraday. There are 24 copper plates installed in the distillation columns, which are responsible for multiple condensation and sublimation. In 2013, the distillery purchased another of the same cube, which was made to order.
- Peat whiskey at Penderyn is made in an unusual way. The company abandoned the use of fumigated malt, and the smoky notes of the drinks are given by aging in barrels brought from the Islay distilleries.
Types of whiskey Penderin
Penderyn Madeira, 46%
Flagship brand of the distillery. Aged in a combination of American Bourbon and Portuguese Madeira casks. The aroma is fresh, with hints of toffee, ripe fruit and raisins. On the palate, notes of tropical fruits, vanilla and oak stand out, the finish is sweet and dry.
Penderyn Legend, 41%
The aroma of the amber drink from the “Red Dragon” series smells of fresh apples, citrus fruits and fudge. The taste is complex – at the start, fruity sweetness dominates, which is replaced by a refreshing spicy bitterness. The aftertaste is long, with wine and tobacco nuances.
Penderyn Icons of Wales Rhiannon, 46%
The seventh whiskey in the Icons of Wales collection is named after Rhiannon, the goddess of horses from ancient Welsh legends, and comes in a black bottle. The aroma of the drink has a spicy sweetness with hints of vanilla, pear, marzipan and blackcurrant. The velvety taste distinguishes caramel, figs, red berries, chocolate and coffee. The finish is sweet and dry with spicy oaky notes.
