How Penderyn breathed new life into Welsh whisky after more than a century of silence
For more than a hundred years, Wales had not a single legal whisky distillery. While Scotland and Ireland preserved their whisky traditions for centuries, Welsh whisky history was silenced — until a group of friends in a pub in the village of Hirwaun decided to change that in the late 1990s. On St. David's Day 2004, with Prince Charles himself in attendance, the world tasted whisky "as pure and precious as Welsh gold" again for the first time: Penderyn.
In short
| Idea originated | Late 1990s, during conversations in a pub in Hirwaun |
| First distillation | 2000, with the self-designed Faraday still |
| Launch | March 1, 2004 (St. Davids' Day), in the presence of Prince Charles |
| Today | Three locations in Wales, over 100 awards, export to 50+ countries |
An idea born in a pub in the Welsh valley
The story of Penderyn does not begin in a laboratory or a boardroom, but at the bar of a pub in Hirwaun, a village in the Cynon Valley on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. A group of friends dreamed aloud of their own Welsh whisky — an idea that seemed almost absurd at the time, as the last legal Welsh distillery had closed its doors more than a hundred years earlier. Yet they persevered, with a mission that is still reflected in the brand: to make whisky that is as pure and precious as Welsh gold.
A still that did everything differently
In 2000, a remarkable copper pot still was installed, designed by Dr. David Faraday—a distant relative of the famous scientist Michael Faraday. This "Faraday still" distills in a single step to an unprecedented level of purity, producing a lighter, fruitier, and more accessible spirit than the classic double distillation used by most Scottish distilleries. Whisky chemist Dr. Jim Swan immediately recognized the potential of this exceptional spirit and became Penderyn's Master Blender. Swan introduced maturation in Madeira casks, which remains Penderyn's recognizable house style to this day.
St. Davids Day 2004: a national event
On March 1, 2004, Wales' national holiday, the very first bottle of Penderyn was officially launched — attended by none other than Prince Charles. It was not just a product launch: it was proof that the Welsh whisky tradition had been revived after more than a century of silence. Since then, Penderyn has continued to grow steadily: an expansion of the original distillery in 2013-2014, a second location in Llandudno in Northern Wales in 2021, and a third at the Swansea Copperworks in 2023. By now, Penderyn has won over a hundred international awards and the whisky is exported to more than fifty countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Penderyn Distillery founded?
The idea originated in the late 1990s in a pub in Hirwaun; the first distillation followed in 2000, and the first bottle was launched on March 1, 2004.
Why is the launch on St. David's Day so special?
St. Davids Day is the national holiday of Wales. By launching Penderyn precisely on that day, with Prince Charles in attendance, the whisky was immediately linked to Welsh identity and pride.
Was Penderyn really the first Welsh distillery in more than a century?
Yes. Before Penderyn, Wales had not had a single legal whisky distillery for more than a hundred years.
How many locations does Penderyn have now?
Three: the original distillery in the village of Penderyn, a location in Llandudno (since 2021), and the Swansea Copperworks (since 2023).
