Wales is known for a lot of great things, but it may be a surprising discovery to many that whisky is one of them and is made in this beautiful country.
Distilling and enjoying the drink has been a part of Welsh history for centuries and since the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century, new forward-thinking efforts resurfaced based on the stunning Welsh produce and the country’s long traditions, which brought investment for production.
The first and most known producer, who started back in 2000, are the Welsh Whisky Company, more known by the name Penderyn, which derives from the namesake village Penderyn, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the Cynon Valley.
This was the first whisky made in Wales since 1894, and today Penderyn’s range boasts close to twenty individual whisky labels.
Here at Grove, we are currently enjoying the fruity and easy-going Legend, the wholesome Rich Oak, and the best-seller Madeira Finish.
Another great effort comes from the Aber Falls distillery, who only released their first whisky in 2020, thus becoming the first whisky distillery in North Wales since the 19th century.
Using only Welsh grain, local spring water, copper stills and a carefully selected variety of casks, their Single Malt Whisky has already gathered a multitude of awards from some of the most prestigious judging panels of the UK, and is making us even prouder to have it available behind our bar at Grove of Narberth.
All this said, we are looking forward to seeing what the exciting future of Welsh distillation will bring, and without breaking any secrets, we can confidently say that this is a space to watch in the next few years!
