Penderyn Distillery – also known as The Welsh Whisky Company – is set to open a new distillery in the north Wales coastal town of Llandudno on 17 May.
The £5 million (US$7 million) distillery is housed in a Grade II listed building which was built in 1887. The new facility includes a Faraday still, readied for the distillery’s focus on the production of peated barley single malt whisky.
Penderyn has operated from Brecon Beacons, in South Wales, for the past 20 years. Its mission, it said, is to revive the spirit of the original Welsh Whisky distillery at Frongoch, which was closed over 100 years ago.
According to Penderyn Distillery, Wales and its whisky – or ‘Welsh Liquid Gold’ as it is known locally – is now “well and truly on the map of world whiskies to watch”. Penderyn’s single malt whisky portfolio includes the Dragon collection (Legend, Myth and Celt); Gold range (Madeira, Peated, Portwood, Sherrywood, Rich Oak and Grand Slam 2019 Edition); a series of Single Cask and Limited Editions, and Icons of Wales. Penderyn aims to release 50 Icons of Wales expressions, with each one celebrating a person, milestone or event from Welsh history with international significance.
The third in the series celebrated the centenary of the birth of the famed Welsh writer, poet and broadcaster Dylan Thomas. The most recent seventh edition honoured Rhiannon, a powerful enchantress and horse goddess from ancient Welsh folk tales. Its eight edition will feature the Hiraeth Live network, a community of businesses which support two Welsh charities. Hafal works with people across Wales who live with mental illness, or care for someone who does, while Llamau’s mission is to end youth homelessness and homelessness for women in Wales. |
Penderyn Distillery CEO Stephen Davies noted that a third Penderyn distillery is due to open in Swansea next year. “At Penderyn we are always continuing to innovate and develop our business,” he said.
As reported, Penderyn appointed highly-respected and experienced travel retail executive Simon Roffe as Director of Business Development last year.
“Business performance has been super and we continue to outperform our plans so the new capacity is well timed,” Roffe said.
“International expansion continues at pace with Penderyn now available in many more markets as the ‘New World’ whisky category continues to be a growth driver,” he added.
Roffe said the COVID-19 pandemic had affected growth within airport-based travel retail but underlined Penderyn’s strategy to target other duty free channels.
