WELSH WHISKY TIMELINE
"Wales has a surprisingly varied whisky tradition."
May 2021 
November 2022 
Spring 2023 
4th century 
1705 
1889 
1903 
1915 
1st March 2004 
1st March 2005 
9th November 2005 
1st October 2007 
June 2008 
March 2013 
May 2016 
December 2017 
July 2018 
August 2020
May 2021
November 2022
Spring 2023
4th century
1705
1889 Spring 2023
Penderyn opens its 3rd distillery in Swansea, South Wales
4th century
Archaeology proves that there were small stills throughout Wales
1705
Evan William’s family has a distillery in Dale, Pembrokeshire. They emigrated to the New World and Evan was a founding father of the Kentucky bourbon industry.
1889
The Welsh Whisky Distillery opens in Frongoch, Bala, North Wales
1903
Frongoch distillery closes and the building later becomes a POW camp for German POWs, and in 1916 for Irish Republican prisoners.
1915
Welsh Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George brings in legislation which helps create a ‘premium‘ whisky business.
1st March 2004
Penderyn Single Malt Whisky launched by His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales
1st March 2005
Penderyn is launched in London
9th November 2005
Penderyn is released in the US in New York
1st October 2007
Launch of Merlyn, Brecon FIVE Vodka and Brecon Special Reserve Gin
June 2008
The Penderyn Distillery Visitor Centre opens to the public
March 2013
The new Faraday replica still and pot stills arrive
May 2016
New Penderyn distillery at Swansea’s Copper Quarter announced
December 2017
A record year for sales
July 2018
New distillery proposed for Llandudno in North Wales.
August 2020
Penderyn wins its 50th whisky and spirits gold award
May 2021
Penderyn opens its 2nd distillery in Llandudno, North Wales
November 2022
Welsh footballer Gareth Bale becomes a Penderyn Shareholder and Brand Ambassador
Spring 2023
Penderyn opens its 3rd distillery in Swansea, South Wales
4th century
Archaeology proves that there were small stills throughout Wales