Yes, Virginia, they make whisky in Wales. And as in Scotland, they spell it without the E.
Penderyn is the best known Welsh whisky on the market, probably because it’s the only operating distillery left in the region.
Penderyn makes several bottlings, but this, in the company’s “house style,” is one of its best-known, a single malt which is matured in bourbon barrels and finished in old Madeira wine casks. It bears no age statement but is lightly golden in color and the balance indicates it’s quite young.
Wood and leather notes are surprisingly prominent in the body, which exhibits a buttery, honey-like consistency. The Madeira character is considerably different than in, say, Balvenie’s Madeira-finished Scotch, ending not so much with wine-like notes but with bittersweet chocolate and more cask wood character. I’d like more balance and cohesion in all of these flavors, but I do appreciate this whisky’s moxie.
92 proof.
B+ / $52 / welsh-whisky.co.uk
Similar Posts:
- Review: Three New Gordon & MacPhail Scotches – Caol Ila and Benromach
- Review: The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Years Old
- Tasting Report: Balvenie Scotch Whisky 2009 Lineup
- Tasting Report: Madeira Wine 2010
i’ve just posted my notes on the Madiera.
see it here:
http://bit.ly/penderynMalt
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