Welsh whisky

Last updated

Welsh whisky (Welsh : wisgi Cymreig) is liquor made from malt, grain and water that is produced in Wales. [1] There are currently two types of Welsh whisky Malt Whisky and Grain Whisky [2] [3]

Contents

Welsh whisky
Penderyn Distillery - geograph.org.uk - 5120742.jpg
Example of active whisky distillery in Wales
Type Distilled beverage
Country of origin  Wales
Introduced First introduced / Reintroduced
1800 / 2016
Discontinued1900
Alcohol by volume  40% [4] - 63.2% [5]
ColourCaramel
Ingredients Malt, Water, Grains
Variants Single malt, Single cask, Small batch, [6] Blended whisky [7]
Related products

Whisky has been distilled in Wales since the Middle Ages, but production died out in the late nineteenth century. In the 1990s attempts were made to revive the practice, resulting in the establishment of Wales's first distillery in over one hundred years.[ citation needed ]

History

Origin

Wales has a long history of alcohol production, but distillation came in the Middle Ages. The first evidence of stills in Wales dates to the 4th century AD. [8]

"The Great Welsh Warrior" Reaullt Hir is said to have distilled chwisgi from braggot brewed by the monks of Bardsey Island in AD 356. These monks then allegedly developed the art of distilling further. [9] However this is unlikely. The name "Reaullt" is a High Medieval loanword from Anglo-Norman French, [10] so this name would not have been used before the eleventh century.

The medieval Welsh stories of The Mabinogion mention fermentation but not distillation; the end of the "Mead Song" in a sixteenth-century manuscript of the sixth-century Tales of Taliesin mentions distillation, although mead is a fermented beverage.[ citation needed ]

Revival

Penderyn Distillery Penderyn Distillery and Visitor Centre - geograph.org.uk - 3059352.jpg
Penderyn Distillery

Manufacturing of whisky in Wales declined during the nineteenth century, with the commercial development of liquor discouraged by the rise of the temperance movement. The last notable distillery was established by R. J. Lloyd Price in 1887 at Frongoch. His company, the Welsh Whisky Distillery Company, was not a success and was sold in 1900 to William Owen of Bala for £5000. [11] The company was finally liquidated in 1910. [12]

In the 1990s entrepreneurs attempted to revive distillation in the country. The first attempts entailed bottling Scottish blends in Wales as "Welsh whisky", but a lawsuit by Scotch distillers ended the enterprise. [13] In 2000 the foundation of the Welsh Whisky Company (now known as Penderyn) was announced. A distillery was built at Penderyn in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Production commenced in 2000 and the finished product, the first whisky commercially produced in Wales for a century, went on sale in 2004. [14]

In 2016 the Dà Mhìle distillery near Llandysul in west Wales bottled its first whisky, an organic single grain whisky.[ citation needed ]

In 2017, with two distilleries actively making and marketing whisky, Wales was officially recognised under European Union legislation as having a whisky industry. [15] [16] By February 2020, two more had begun operations: the Aber Falls distillery and Coles distillery. [17]

The Aber Falls distillery in Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, commenced production in late 2017 and released its first whisky in 2021 after delaying the launch due to the Coronavirus. [18] [19]

In 2020, the Coles distillery [17] [20] produced the third single malt whisky in Wales at Llanddarog in Carmarthenshire, making it the fourth to begin production and the third to release whisky onto the market. [17]

Definition

In August 2021 a group of Welsh distillers submitted an application for a geographical indication (GI) [21]

On July 24, 2023 the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs granted Welsh Whisky a geographical indication. [22]

In order for whiskies to be branded as Welsh they must to comply with a legally set criteria.

Welsh whisky must:

Distilleries

As of December 2022 there are 7 whisky distilleries across Wales. [24]

Aber Falls

The Aber Falls distillery in Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, began production in 2017 and released its first whisky on 17 May 2021. [25]

Anglesey Môn

Anglesey Môn distillery was established in 2018 near Pentraeth on Anglesey. [26]

Coles

The Coles distillery, which also produces gin and vodka, is set in the Carmarthenshire countryside in the village of Llanddarog. [20]

Dà Mhìle

The name of the distillery was inspired by the initial bottling commissioned to Springbank to celebrate the millennium, (Dà Mhìle is Scottish Gaelic and translates to "two thousand"). [27] The owners, John, Patrice and Paula came to Wales from the Netherlands with dreams of setting up a centre for organic farming near Llandysul, Ceredigion. [27] In 2012 they opened the doors to the distillery on the farm, producing their first organic single malt.

In the Welsh Wind

The 'In the Welsh Wind' distillery in Tan-y-groes, Ceredigion, was founded in January 2018. In 2021 it received permission to extend and develop the existing building and to construct a cask and grain store, which will allow it to complete all the steps of whisky production. [28]

Penderyn

The Penderyn distillery (formerly: The Welsh whisky company distillery [29] )in Penderyn, Rhondda Cynon Taf was established in 2000 and was the first commercial distillery operating in Wales since the 19th century.

Brands

NoBrandsNo of ReleasesCite
1.Penderyn341 [30] Penderyn Madeira Single Malt

Penderyn Celt Single Malt Whisky

Penderyn Single Cask Malt Whisky [31]

[32]
2.Dà Mhìle19 [33] Dà Mhìle Single Grain Welsh Whisky 2022 [34]
3.Aber Falls Distillery12 [35] Aber Falls Autumn release 2021 Single Malt Whisky

Aber Falls Single Malt Whisky Distillers Cut 2021 [36]

4.In The Welsh Wind

Economic

As of July 2023 Welsh whisky is available in 45 countries, with the total value of exports forecast to generate £23m this year. [37]

Achievements

On July 5, 2016 two bottles from The Welsh Whisky Distillery Company [lower-alpha 1] , dating from around the 1900s, were sold for a combined total of £14,500 to a private bidder. [38]

See also

Economic

Economy of Wales

Food and drink industry of Wales

Whisky

Welsh Whisky Geographical Indication (GI)

Organisations

British Distillers Alliance

Footnotes

  1. The Welsh Whisky Company Distillery has been renamed the Penderyn distillery

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotch whisky</span> Malt or grain whisky distilled in Scotland

Scotch whisky is malt whisky or grain whisky, made in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whisky</span> Distilled alcoholic beverage

Whisky or whiskey is a type of liquor made from fermented grain mash. Various grains are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, which are typically made of charred white oak. Uncharred white oak casks previously used for the aging of port, rum or sherry are also sometimes used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single malt Scotch</span> Type of whisky made in Scotland

Single malt Scotch refers to single malt whisky made in Scotland. To qualify for this category, a whisky must have been distilled at a single distillery using a pot still distillation process and made from a mash of malted barley. Therefore, a single malt means that the whisky has not been blended elsewhere with whisky from other distilleries. As with any Scotch whisky, a single malt Scotch must be distilled in Scotland and matured in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years, although most single malts are matured longer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single malt whisky</span> Malt whisky from a single distillery

Single malt whisky is malt whisky from a single distillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talisker distillery</span> Island Single Malt Scotch whisky

Talisker distillery is an island single malt Scotch whisky distillery based in Carbost, Scotland on the Minginish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenmorangie distillery</span> Whisky distillery in Tain, Scotland

Glenmorangie distillery is a distillery in Tain, Ross-shire, Scotland, that produces single malt Scotch whisky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruichladdich distillery</span> Scotch whisky distillery on Islay, Scotland

Bruichladdich Distillery is a distillery on the Rhinns of the isle of Islay in Scotland. The distillery produces mainly single malt Scotch whisky, but has also offered artisanal gin. It is owned by Rémy Cointreau and is one of nine working distilleries on the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese whisky</span> Type of distilled liquor produced in Japan

Japanese whisky is a style of whisky developed and produced in Japan. Whisky production in Japan began around 1870, but the first commercial production was in 1923 upon the opening of the country's first distillery, Yamazaki. Broadly speaking, the style of Japanese whisky is more similar to that of Scotch whisky than other major styles of whisky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auchentoshan distillery</span> Whisky distillery in Dalmuir, Scotland

Auchentoshan distillery is a single malt whisky distillery in the west of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian whisky</span> Type of distilled liquor produced in India

As of 2006 most distilled spirits labelled as "whisky" in India were a form of Indian-made foreign liquor, commonly blends based on neutral spirits that are distilled from fermented molasses with only a small portion consisting of traditional malt whisky, usually about 10 to 12 percent. Outside India, such a drink would more likely be labelled a rum. According to the Scotch Whisky Association's 2013 annual report, unlike in the European Union (EU), "there is no compulsory definition of whisky in India, and the Indian voluntary standard does not require whisky to be distilled from cereals or to be matured. Very little Indian 'whisky' qualifies as whisky in the EU owing to the use of molasses or neutral alcohol, limited maturation and the use of flavourings. Such spirits are, of course, considerably cheaper to produce than genuine whisky." Such molasses-based blends made up 90 percent of the spirits consumed as "whisky" in India in 2004, although whisky wholly distilled from malt and other grains, was also manufactured and sold. By 2004 shortages of wheat had been overcome and India was one of the largest producers. Amrut, the first single malt whisky produced in India, was launched in Glasgow, Scotland in 2004. After expanding in Europe it was launched in India in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English whisky</span> Whisky distilled in England

English whisky is a liquor made from cereal grains, malt and water. There are currently two types of English whiskies produced malt whisky and grain whisky.

Littlemill distillery was a Scottish malt whisky distillery in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire and is proven to be Scotland's first and oldest licensed whisky distillery. Situated on the border of Lowlands and Highlands, its products were generally classified as lowlands whisky. Auchentorlie Estate, along with a brewery call Littlemill, was purchased in 1750 by Archibal Buchanan from his brother Andrew Buchanan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian whisky</span> Type of distilled liquor produced in Australia

Australian Whisky is whisky produced in Australia. As of December 2021, there were 333 registered distilleries in operation within Australia, of which approximately 50 have a whisky on the market. The industry has shown steady growth since the early 90s especially in the boutique craft distilling scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckwheat whisky</span> Type of distilled alcoholic beverage

Buckwheat whisky is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made entirely or principally from buckwheat. It is produced in the Brittany region of France and in the United States. Soba shōchū is a similar but weaker beverage produced in Japan. Liquor produced from the distillation of buckwheat honey is also sometimes sold as buckwheat whisky or whiskey, though technically this is a type of distilled mead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikka Whisky Distilling</span> Japanese whisky company

The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. Ltd. is a producer of Japanese whisky and other beverages headquartered in Tokyo. It is owned by Asahi Group Holdings.

Stauning Whisky is a whisky distillery in Denmark. It is located in the western part of Jutland just south of a small village called Stauning near Skjern. The distillery was founded in May 2005 by nine Danish whisky enthusiasts and is the oldest whisky distillery in the Kingdom of Denmark. The idea was originally to create a whisky resembling the peated whisky produced on the Scottish isle of Islay. The production is done mainly by hand using local grain and water. Everything is produced following the traditional Scottish methods of whisky production. The preparations started in a building owned by one of the nine founders, formerly used as a private slaughter-house. The building was renovated and official permission obtained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isle of Raasay distillery</span> Scotch whisky distillery in Northwest Scotland

Isle of Raasay distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Raasay in Northwest Scotland. The distillery is owned by R&B Distillers and was the first legal distillery on the Isle of Raasay when it opened in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of whisky</span> Outline of the knowledge of whisky

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to whisky:

Nc'nean distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery in Drimnin on the Morvern peninsula of the Highlands, Scotland. The distillery is beside the Sound of Mull, opposite the Isle of Mull. The distillery name Nc'nean, comes from "Neachneohain", a Gaelic legend which translates as the Queen of Spirits.

New world whisky (IPA:[/n is an emerging category of malt or grain whiskies that are either produced by countries not usually associated with whisky production, or not produced using traditional methods.

References

  1. "Dà Mhìle Organic Single Grain Welsh Whisky - Ratings and reviews - Whiskybase". Whiskybase.com. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  2. Britner, Lucy (25 July 2023). "Single malt Welsh whisky gains GI - Drinks Retailing". Drinks Retailing - Championing the off-trade since 1863. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  3. Ranscombe, Peter (24 July 2023). "Welsh single malt whisky gains legal protection". Decanter. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  4. "Aber Falls Single Malt Welsh Whisky - Ratings and reviews - Whiskybase". Whiskybase.com. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  5. "Penderyn Bourbon Matured Single Cask - Ratings and reviews - Whiskybase". Whiskybase.com. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  6. "Penderyn Small Batch Release - Ratings and reviews - Whiskybase". Whiskybase.com. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  7. "Penderyn Patagonia - Ratings and reviews - Whiskybase". Whiskybase.com. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. "Distilling in Wales". Penderyn. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  9. Mary Chitty (1992). The monks on Ynys Enlli.
  10. Kraaijeveld, Alex. "Welsh whisky - The Early Myths". Celtic Malts. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  11. Deeds relating to Frongoch Whiskey Distillery, Llanfor Meirionnydd Archives
  12. Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. pp. 957–958. ISBN   978-0-7083-1953-6.
  13. Amanda Kelly (8 May 2000). "Welsh will make a rare bit of whiskey". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  14. "Rebirth of Welsh whisky spirit". BBC News. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  15. "Wales secures 'whisky' status as Dà Mhìle bottles grain". www.thespiritsbusiness.com. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  16. Pyke, Chris (26 September 2016). "Wales can now officially be called a whisky nation". Wales Online. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  17. 1 2 3 Pyke, Chris (21 February 2020). "Distillery has created its first single malt whisky". Business Live.
  18. Hughes, Owen (14 August 2017). "North Wales's first whisky distillery set to start production...but drinkers will have to wait for first tipple". Daily Post (North Wales) . Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  19. "Aber Falls Whisky Distillery". www.aberfallsdistillery.com.
  20. 1 2 "Coles Distillery". Business Wales.
  21. "Welsh single malt whisky secures geographical indication". whiskymag.com. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  22. Ranscombe, Peter (24 July 2023). "Welsh single malt whisky gains legal protection". Decanter. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  23. "New protected status for Single Malt Welsh Whisky". www.mills-reeve.com. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  24. "Whisky in Wales: The birth of Wisgi Cymreig". whiskymag.com. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  25. @aberdistillery (15 May 2021). "This week we made history by bottling our very first casks of whisky. This is the first bottle we numbered, 1 of 2000. What a moment!" via Instagram.
  26. Hughes, Owen (19 May 2018). "Anglesey Môn Distillery has this week announced its arrival on the craft spirit scene". Daily Post .
  27. 1 2 "History + Farm". Dà Mhìle Distillery. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  28. "Planning Permission Granted for Award-Winning Welsh Whisky Distillery". Business News Wales. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  29. "Penderyn Distillery (The Welsh Whisky Company)". www.diffordsguide.com. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  30. "Penderyn". www.whiskybase.com. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  31. Barton, Susannah Skiver (23 February 2022). "Best Welsh Whiskies to Celebrate Wales' National Holiday". Men's Journal. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  32. Dominic (31 July 2023). "A History of Welsh Whisky". Whisky Investment. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  33. "Brands - Whiskybase - Ratings and reviews for whisky". www.whiskybase.com. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  34. "Dà Mhìle Organic Single Malt Welsh Whisky - Ratings and reviews - Whiskybase". Whiskybase.com. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  35. "Brands - Whiskybase - Ratings and reviews for whisky". www.whiskybase.com. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  36. "The 10 English/Welsh Whiskies you Have to Try!". The Three Drinkers. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  37. foodmanufacture.co.uk (24 July 2023). "Welsh whisky receives global protected status". foodmanufacture.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  38. "Whisky from 1900 sells for £14,500". BBC News. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2024.