Origin: Penderyn (Wales)
Type: Single Malt Welsh Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry Oloroso
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: N0
Owner: Penderyn Distillery
Average price: € 50.00
Official website: penderyn.wales
Vote: 80/100
There are too many distilleries in the world and even more whiskies to try!
And so it is that almost three years have passed since this distillery from Wales made its debut on these pages, again with a bottling from the Gold series in honour of the Welsh gold, ‘rare, pure and precious’ that was worn by the princes of Wales.
Almost twenty years have passed since their first bottle of whisky, with the style of distillation deliberately different from that of their Scottish cousins, thanks also to the initial guidance of Jim Swan, and in that time many things have changed: they have added new stills, they have begun to mash the barley on site, and the leadership is all female.
After the maturation in ex-Port, we pour into the glass the one in ex-Oloroso Sherry, as always without precise time indications but assumed to be between six years for the first ageing and about 12 months for the second.
Tasting notes
Quite evident youthfulness on the nose, with a clear presence of cereal, yeast and vegetable notes amalgamated with a marked trail of spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, aniseed) and almonds. The influence of the finishing is expressed in a currant and wild strawberry reduction poured over meringue, dried apricot, candied ginger and grapefruit, with a slight vein of milk chocolate. Buttermilk base. Lively.
The palate has a discreet texture with a freshness still provided by the vegetal notes with the spices acting as a lively, appetising frame. The initial, somewhat bitter opening soon opens up to warmer, more comfortable colours of caramel, sugar paste, coffee, dark chocolate and dried fruit (apricots, citrus fruits), without however forgetting a certain lightness of the whole, with sometimes balsamic traits and good alcoholic vigour. In length it tends to be elusive, leaving the hand to wood and spices.
The finish is not very long and dry, of spices, vegetable notes, citrus and cocoa.
Youth pays its toll, and not everyone succeeds in turning it into a strength: the substance is there, aromas and flavours too, but they don’t hold up over the long term, getting lost rather quickly. As long as it lasts, however, the experience is quite pleasant, a little less so at the end.