If you find the subject of Welsh gold interesting, you’ll have no trouble finding lots of information about this rare metal, the mines, and the ancient jewelry. But broaden your search, and you’ll learn about the new Welsh gold, Penderyn Distillery, the first Welsh whisky in over 100 years, and distilling since 2000. This company’s story is about how respect for tradition, innovation, making the most of nature’s gifts, and thoughtful management decisions can turn water into gold. It is also the story of a premium product that has won many awards, most recently in the category of Best Whisky in the United Kingdom according to the Luxury Lifestyle Awards.

It all started with the location and its heritage. Since ancient times, Wales has boasted of its whiskey and unique distilling technology. Over time, however, the art of distilling in Wales became a thing of the past, and for more than a century, no one was involved in it. But one day, in a pub in the village of Penderyn, at the top of the South Wales valleys, a group of friends got excited at the idea of opening the first local whisky distillery in over a century. They were driven by a great passion and a dream to create the perfect whisky, pure as Welsh gold. Spoiler alert: they succeeded in making that dream come true.

Friends already had the first ingredient: fresh, natural water from a local spring. But water alone was not enough. To create a unique product that could revive the legend of Welsh whiskey, the magic of transforming water into liquid gold was needed. The first person responsible for the magic was the scientist and stills expert Dr. Jim Swan. He was later joined by Dr. David Faraday, a chemical engineer at Surrey University and a direct descendant of the great scientist Michael Faraday, who contributed greatly to the development of electricity.

David Faraday was tasked with creating a completely new distilling system. He enthusiastically set out to find a new solution. The result of his research projects was the creation of a unique ‘single pot’ still, which with a single fractionating column could produce different types of alcohol. Today, the brand uses two stills to meet the high demand for the exclusive Penderyn Whisky. Another important factor is the use of two types of casks. The initial maturation takes place in bourbon casks, after which the whisky is finished in Portuguese barriques, which were previously used for nurturing Madeira wine.

The creation of the single pot still was the most important stage of the work. Now it was necessary to work on adjusting the equipment to get the taste of the new Welsh whiskey. Along with the painstaking work of Dr. Faraday’s team at Surrey University, Dr. Jim Swan was involved in the process. With his skill and the unique sense of smell, he perfected the still configuration and the maturation process, ensuring unique smooth taste of Penderyn Whisky, which was recognized by the expert committee of Luxury Lifestyle Awards and numerous connoisseurs of premium Welsh whisky all over the world. Dr Jim Swan also trained up the all women distilling team.

Penderyn brand was registered in 2001, and in 2004, on St David’s Day, in the presence of HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Penderyn Single Malt Whisky was launched. This day can be considered the day of the rebirth of Welsh Whisky. The long search for the ideal production technology and the unique taste was fully justified. The impeccable quality of Penderyn Distillery products allowed it to take places on the same shelves with the best whiskies in the world.

In 2008, The Penderyn Distillery Visitor Center was opened to the public. During the hour-long tour, visitors can learn about the brand’s history, production technology, see the equipment, and visit the Tasting Bar, where they have the opportunity to taste some of the brand’s products. And in May 2021 we opened the Llandudno Lloyd St Distillery in North Wales, which is featured in the pictures, and will produce a peated barley whisky, the first time Penderyn have used this kind of barley. Both distillery shops are open to the public and tours and masterclasses are available at both distilleries. In 2022 we will open our 3^rd distillery in the city of Swansea.