We distil our barley wash at Penderyn Distillery in our unique copper still which was designed by Dr David Faraday, a descendent of Sir Michael Faraday. The technical innovation of our still produces not only a barley spirit of great complexity, depth and finesse, but also removes almost all of the undesirable chemical compounds which a conventional two or three pot system cannot. It is here that Penderyn starts to differentiate itself from traditional Scottish and Irish whiskies.
The experience of standing in the still room is a real assault on the senses. The soft chug of the steam as it heats the malted barley wash is reminiscent of Wales’s famous small gauge steam railways. The strong scent of malt combined with a complex mix of toffee, caramel and dried fruit even at this stage is a pre-curser to the distinctive Penderyn nose. The sight of the copper columns over the copper pot and the drip of our spirit into the spirit safe is a visual delight. At a massive 92% A.B.V., our spirit is delicate, full of flavour and has a style of its very own.
The monitoring of the distillation process is a meticulous job. Gillian Macdonald, our distiller, must be alert to any changes taking place. She undertakes numerous checks to ensure that the quality and flavour of the new spirit being distilled is at its peak.
Our new spirit is combined with water from the Penderyn Distillery’s natural spring, located underneath the distillery, and is thus reduced to 63.4% A.B.V. - our cask strength.