Welsh Single Malt · Since 2000
From a dream in a Hirwaun pub to one of the most acclaimed distilleries in the world.
Distilling in Wales was a lost art, until a handful of friends decided otherwise. What started as an idea shared over a pint in the Welsh valleys would, within a generation, put Wales back on the whisky map.
The 1990s
Wales hadn't produced whisky in over a hundred years. In a pub in the shadow of the Brecon Beacons, a small group of friends decided that should change. They chose the village of Penderyn for its natural spring water, and set out to build something nobody in Wales had attempted in a century.
A Welsh whisky felt like a curiosity at first. It didn't stay one for long. Penderyn remains privately owned today, with over 60 shareholders united by one belief: that Welsh craft deserved a place on the world stage.
Innovation
Dr David Faraday, a relative of the great 19th-century scientist Michael Faraday, designed our unique single copper-pot still. Unlike traditional Scottish pot stills, the Faraday still produces spirit in a single distillation at an industry-high draw of 92% ABV, creating a remarkably clean, fruity and flavoursome character.
The legendary Scottish whisky expert Dr Jim Swan, known as 'The Einstein of Whisky', became our first Master Distiller. It was Swan who suggested we finish in Madeira casks. It's been our house style ever since.
Every element of distillation today is controlled by our all-women distilling and blending team, led by Aista Phillips and Bethan Morgan, carrying on the exacting, hands-on approach Faraday and Swan built the still around a quarter of a century ago.
See the Stills on a TourThe Craft
The Penderyn house style derives from two types of cask. For initial maturation, we use the finest hand-selected bourbon barrels, many from Buffalo Trace, widely recognised as one of the finest bourbons in the world. We also use barrels from Evan Williams, a west Wales distiller who began in 1783.
To finish, we transfer to Portuguese barriques that have previously nurtured rich Madeira wine, a sweet, complex wine capable of ageing over 100 years. The spirit slowly leaches the Madeira from the oak, gaining subtlety and complexity.
We also use Port wood from Portugal and dry Oloroso Sherry from Spain, alongside peated Scottish casks for our Peated expression.
Brecon Beacons
Water from within the Fforest Fawr National Geopark, one of only 100 UNESCO-administered Geoparks worldwide, exhibiting 'geological heritage of great significance.'
Llandudno
Water drawn from beneath the Great Orme Lighthouse, on the dramatic North Wales coast.
Swansea
Water from the world-famous Dan-yr-Ogof caves of South Wales.
14th September 2000
The first spirit ran from the still on the 14th of September 2000. After years of patient maturation, Penderyn Single Malt launched on St David's Day, 1st March 2004, in the presence of HRH Prince Charles.
Wales had its whisky once more.
Recognition
140+
International Awards
Double Gold, Gold and Masters at the world's most prestigious spirits competitions.
50
Countries
Welsh whisky now poured from France and Germany to the USA, Ukraine and China.
26
Years of Craft
Since 2000. From a single still in Penderyn village to three distilleries across Wales.
Experience
Guided Tours
See the Faraday Still and taste our whisky with expert guides.
From £15 per person →
Go Deeper
An in-depth tasting led by our distillers. Learn nosing, tasting and the art of whisky.
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