It was a meeting over 70 years in the making. On May 14th, 2024, Neil Quigley, Chief Operating Officer at Penderyn Distillery, travelled to New York City to witness their brand ambassador Matthew Rhys take the stage to portray legendary Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas. Rhys starred in the play “Dear Mr Thomas: A New Play For Voices” by Christopher Monger at the 92NY theatre.
The date held great significance, as it was on May 14th, 1952 that Thomas gave the first-ever reading of his famous “play for voices,” Under Milk Wood, at that very same historic theatre. Penderyn Whisky and the Welsh Government came together to sponsor this remarkable artistic celebration of Welsh culture and creativity.
For Quigley, the experience was deeply moving. “To be there on that stage 72 years to the day after Dylan Thomas first breathed life into the iconic words of Under Milk Wood was extraordinarily special,” he says. “Matthew’s performance was simply mesmerising – he embodied the passion, humour and brilliant madness of Thomas in a way that was startlingly authentic.”
Dylan Thomas’ iconic works painted evocative portraits of the people and places that shaped him in his beloved Welsh homeland. His famous radio play Under Milk Wood is considered a masterpiece, using a rich tapestry of lyrical language to depict one whimsical day in the fictional Welsh seaside village of Llareggub.
As a proud Welsh brand committed to honouring the nation’s rich literary and cultural traditions, Penderyn Distillery felt a great connection to this historic event. “Dylan Thomas is a Welsh giant on the world stage, and his life and works will forever be inextricably linked with our country’s identity,” said Quigley. “For Penderyn to play a small role in keeping his incredible legacy vibrantly alive was an absolute privilege.”
The distillery also relished the opportunity to celebrate their brand ambassador Rhys, who has raised Penderyn’s international profile through his work in acclaimed television shows like Brothers & Sisters, Perry Mason and The Americans. A well-respected actor of Welsh heritage, Rhys has been a devoted ambassador for the award-winning Penderyn whisky.
“Matthew is absolute acting royalty, but he also has a profound appreciation for the craftsmanship and heritage that makes Penderyn whisky so special,” said Quigley. “He promotes our brand with such authenticity and passion – it was only fitting that we returned that passionate support when he took the stage to become Dylan Thomas.”
After the riveting performance, the Penderyn team joined Rhys and other cast members for a celebratory photo. Quigley beamed with Welsh pride seeing the warm camaraderie between the actors and the Penderyn crew. “We’re all united by a love for the rich culture of Wales – it was like family coming together to joyfully honour our roots.”
Those roots were further represented by special guests Tom Loftus and Jared Card of the distribution company ImpEx Beverages, Penderyn’s importers in the United States. “The US market is extremely important for our growing brand,” said Quigley. “Having Tom and Jared there to share in this uniquely Welsh evening was the perfect way to reinforce that American connection.”
As the night drew to a close, Quigley and the Penderyn crew raised a glass of their award-winning whisky in a heartfelt toast to Dylan Thomas, Matthew Rhys, and the creative spirit of Wales that bonds them together across generations. It was a fittingly poetic celebration of the people, places and libations that make the small nation so tremendously larger than life.