Penderyn Distillery is located in the town of Penderyn, in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. It was opened in 2000, in fact the first spirit was distilled on 14th September 2000.

Penderyn distillery uses a quite unique Faraday still (invented and produced by David Faraday specifically for Penderyn.) This is a single still set-up which includes a copper pot still with a tall (straight) column on top. This column includes perforated plates.

Status: Operational (owned by the Welsh Whisky Co.)

Distillery website

Penderyn, Madeira cask, 46% ABV

Release date; October 2006

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Nose: Gin, Juniper

Palate: Dry, juniper and cinnamon. Quite a distinct tingle on the front of the tongue.

With water: Juniper and much more spicy.

Overall Impression: A jolly good whisky

Penderyn, Madeira cask, 46% ABV

2011 edition

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Bright (9ct) yellow gold

Nose: Initially juniper with hints of red grape, then after some minutes I detect what I can only describe as faintly malty plasticine, but it doesn't stay long as the juniper returns accompanied by a suggestion of baked apple.

Palate: Lots of juniper and red fruit, maybe along the lines of gin with cranberry juice.

Finish Long with plenty of juniper

Overall Impression: A decent whisky, but maybe just a little too much juniper for my taste.

Penderyn, Port Wood, 41% ABV

2011 edition

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Coppery gold

Nose: Oooh quite unusual, this needs a little more time to develop fully .... How about Alpine cheese covered or even marinated in something quite red? This is almost winey, but not quite. Now I'm detecting a nuttiness, then beef stroganoff and even something quite perfumed. Very interesting!

Palate: Lots of juniper with a big red wine influence here. Then a sweet fruitiness reminscent of bramble jelly or even sweet redcurrant.

Finish Long and very red.

Overall Impression: I love that nose, it's one of the most interesting I've experienced for some time, although the palate isn't quite as complex or unusual, but this is certainly a most enjoyable whisky.

Penderyn, Peated Single Cask, 61.2% ABV

Cask No.128/2006, bottle No.16 of 176

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Extremely pale, almost water-like

Nose: Slightly herbal and lightly smoked juniper. Herbal smoky gin? Can I term the phrase Ginsky? After some minutes a fruitiness develops which reminds me of red & white currants.

Palate: The smokiness is more pronounced on the palate, nice! There's still plenty of juniper but also a slightly peppery summer-fruitiness.

Finish Long and lightly perfumed smokiness.

Overall Impression: Excellent. I love this whisky as the light peatiness really impresses.

Penderyn, Peated Single Cask, 61.2% ABV

Cask No.128/2006, bottle No.176 of 176

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Reviewed as part of MMA 2011

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: They don't come any paler.

Nose: Very herbal with juniper too. This has a really herbal bouquet which is light, fresh and almost perfumed.

Palate: Wow, very herbal but accompanied by a delightfully light smokiness. It's very smooth and slightly fruity with blackberry too.

Finish Long herbal and lightly smoky.

Overall Impression: I detected some subtle differences between this bottle and bottle No.16 from the same cask (above review), but again it is an excellent whisky with a delightfully herbal mix of fruitiness and smokiness.