Welsh whisky pioneers Penderyn Distillery are announcing they will produce and retail a series of ultra-rare new bottlings to celebrate a milestone anniversary. With the brand’s 23rd birthday celebration approaching, Penderyn’s CEO Stephen Davies and his team are marking the occasion with a very collectable treat or two.
The event’s headliner will be a landmark Penderyn 21-year-old release, one of the very first filled casks at the brand’s Brecon Beacons distillery over two decades ago. Measured at a cask strength of 58.9%.
This ex-bourbon bottling will head to selected UK and export partners in the coming weeks, on a highly limited basis and will retail at a recommended price of £600 per bottle.
However, whisky enthusiasts will want to raise their glasses to further releases from this first “anniversary wave”, as Penderyn plans to release two special bottlings in league with three of the company’s closest and longest-standing export partners.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Premium Spirits in Belgium – one of Penderyn’s closest partnerships – the distillery will release an ex-bourbon single cask at 59.4%, at a limited release of just 180 bottles.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Penderyn will help Bresser & Timmer celebrate their 30th anniversary with an ex-ruby port cask, limited to just 271 bottles at a strength of 59.7%.
Finally, to coincide with Whisky Live Paris later this October, Penderyn has supplied its main export partner LMDW with another very rare ex-bourbon single cask – details will be released very soon!
All four releases are made exceptionally rare not only by their age but also by the scarcity of such old casks available in Penderyn’s maturation warehouses. To mark the ultra-rare nature of these single casks, Penderyn’s team has created a special premium presentation underlining the exceptional nature and collectability of the liquid on offer. Such very limited releases are planned to happen once a year going forward.
“It’s amazing to think we started Penderyn Distillery 23 years ago this September,” says Davies. “There’s really no better time to release a few of our limited, premium bottlings – especially as two of our closest export partners are celebrating big anniversaries this year, too!”
“Our 21-year-old bottling really is the pride of Penderyn. It’s been maturing for almost as long as we’ve been trading, and the brand’s made some huge international ground since then.”
Davies refers to some incredible feats the Penderyn brand has accomplished over the past two decades plus. At home, Penderyn’s now at the heart of three separate Welsh locales, with Llandudno and Swansea opening up distilleries in recent times. Most notably, Penderyn Swansea has already received Visit Wales’ coveted Gold VAQAS award despite only having been open since July.
Penderyn has also conquered international spirits panels far and wide since its 21-year-old malt started maturing. Their themed bottlings, too, continue to capture the imagination of whisky buyers at home and abroad. Their limited “Icons of Wales” series, featuring the industry-lauded “Rhiannon” bottling, remains a highlight.
However, it’s the extremely limited runs that pick up whisky lovers’ ears. They’ll get a chance to taste some truly rare treats from Penderyn later in September, with September 14th marking the distillery’s 23rd anniversary.
Setting up in the Brecon Beacons in 2000, Penderyn still runs its headquarters from the village of Penderyn, but has shown it’s not afraid to branch out far and wide to meet whisky tastes and needs.
“Everyone who’s been a part of Penderyn across the past 23 years deserves a chance to sample some of our rarest whiskies,” says Davies. “However, we’re particularly proud of these whiskies – which means we’re not going to bottle it all in one go.”
“As we head into September, it really will be a case of Penderyn spotters needing to keep their eyes peeled for our 21-year-old and other bottlings.”
Whisky fans should heed Davies’ warning – as the 21-year-old rarity will only appear via limited UK and European shelves as September progresses, meaning spotting one of the bottlings will present an opportunity Penderyn fans won’t want to refuse.
“We’re releasing some of our rarest spirits as a thank you to everyone who’s been with us on our journey so far,” says Davies.
September is a big month for Penderyn fans – with the company’s Swansea distillery already welcoming thousands through its doors, whisky lovers now have the chance to get their hands on a piece of Welsh distilling history.
But time’s running out – buyers will need to keep their eyes peeled across the month for the official release of these rare bottles.