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Penderyn
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Penderyn, Single Malt Welsh Whisky (Wales) 
The Welsh Whisky Company Ltd has been making Penderyn single malt in its purpose-built distillery in the Brecon Beacons National Park since 14th September 2000. Penderyn is produced in a unique still, designed by David Faraday, and unlike most malt whisky which is processed in a both a wash still and a spirit still, here the entire business of distillation takes place in the one vessel.
Penderyn also differs from Scotch single malts in that while in Scotland mashing and fermenting on site is a legal requirement, in this case wash is transported from the brewery of SA Brain & Co in Cardiff once a week for distillation.
A youthful Penderyn was launched on St David’s Day in March 2004, and the spirit is usually finished in Madeira casks after initial maturation in Bourbon barrels. There have also been limited edition releases of whisky made using peated malt and some matured in ex-Oloroso Sherry butts.
On the nose, intense, peachy sweetness overlays grainy, gummy, young spirit. The palate is spicy and fruity, with a suggestion of custard powder towards the end, which finishes with raisins and vanilla. Better balanced now than some of the earlier releases sampled, but there remains a nagging doubt that the full-bodied Madeira finish is masking what is essentially rather immature spirit.
46.0% ABV, 70cl, £30.95, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
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