“Tell them stories. They needthe truth; you must tell them true stories, and everything will be well — just tell them stories.”
Philip Pullman
Penderyn Distillery and Bad Wolf Studios, two of Wales’ most internationally recognised creative powerhouses, have joined forces to release Penderyn Bad Wolf, No. 13 in Penderyn’s acclaimed Icons of Wales series — a toast to ten years of dramatic storytelling from the globally celebrated Cardiff-based production company.
Marking a decade of hits from Bad Wolf, the makers behind His Dark Materials, Industry and Doctor Who, this limited-edition 10-year-old single malt Welsh whisky has been fully matured in old Tawny Port pipes — vessels that once held Port wine for 60 years.
Hand-chosen from Penderyn’s Brecon Beacons warehouse by Bad Wolf CEO Jane Tranter and her team, the bottle is both a celebration and a collector’s piece, combining cinematic imagination with distilling mastery.
Penderyn’s longtime design collaborator Lauren Tutssel created the dramatic packaging — and, for the first time, the legendary Bad Wolf symbol is shown mid-howl, embodying Wales’ fierce creative spirit.
A collaboration ten years in the making Jane Tranter, CEO and Co-Founder of Bad Wolf Studios, said: “There’s something characteristically badass and unexpected in marking our 10th year of Bad Wolfwith a whisky in our name. I love that while we’ve been producing hundreds of hours of drama in Wolf Studios Wales, this whisky has been maturing in silence —waiting for its moment. Great things come to those who wait.”
Stephen Davies, CEO of Penderyn Distillery, added: “This is one of the most exciting bottlings we’ve ever done. Bad Wolf has electrified Wales with imagination,scale, and storytelling. It’s only fitting that our tenth Icons of Wales release honours their decade-long contribution to Wales’ modern identity through the arts.”
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Tasting Notes — Penderyn Bad Wolf
Crafted under the expertise of Penderyn’s Master Blender Aista Phillips, the whisky promises a journey from intrigue to intensity — much like a classic Welsh drama:
Nose: Light florals of orange blossom and rose petal unfold into fruitcake, fig jam, and ripe berries — both sweet and vivid.
Palate: Stewed dark fruits, marzipan, and bittersweet marmalade meet an undercurrent of sea-salt caramel and spice — layered, balanced, and bold.
Finish: Lingering dried apricot and caramel fade into a dry, elegant close that will leave fans of both whisky and drama howling for more.
BAD WOLF — Ten Years of World-Class Welsh Storytelling:
Founded in 2015, Bad Wolf has transformed Wales into an international hub for high-end television. Producing over117 hours of globally acclaimed drama, the studio’s portfolio includes The Night Of, A Discovery of Witches, I Hate Suzie, The Winter King, Red Eye, and Industry.
Their latest release, DopeGirls (2025), continues their tradition of strong, original storytelling rooted in Welsh creativity.
From their sprawling studios inCardiff, Bad Wolf has become synonymous with bold ideas and world-class production — the perfect match for Penderyn’s pioneering innovation in whisky.
In the words of Philip Pullman —whose His Dark Materials was brought to life by Bad Wolf — “Tell them stories. They need the truth. You must tell them true stories and everything will be well. Just tell them stories.” That truth flows powerfully through Penderyn Bad Wolf: a bottle that celebrates Wales’ ability to imagine, craft, and inspire. Penderyn Bad Wolf is available online from Monday, 13th October 2025.