Penderyn Rich Oak

Penderyn Rich Oak

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Wales
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, red grapes, vanilla, oak chips, hints of cedar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, slippery, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, oak chips, toffee, red grapes, vanilla, coffee, hints of butterscotch. 
Finish: Long. Oak chips, raisins, red grapes, coffee. 

Comments: 

Rich and sweet, although very woody. They weren’t kidding about the oak. I’ve always liked Penderyn, and I’m very interested to see whether the whisky ages well. It won’t be long now.

Verdict:

I like this.

Penderyn 6yo Batch 2 Home Nations Series

Penderyn 6yo Batch 2 Home Nations Series

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - South Wales
Amber gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sea salt, tomato puree, raisins, orange peel, lemon zest, hints of yellow peppers. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Red grapes, raisins, orange peel, fresh baked bread, honey, barley sugar, hints of tomato puree. 
Finish: Short. Red grapes, orange peel, barley sugar, hints of vanilla. 

Comments: 

Quite an interesting Penderyn, warming and sweet, but with an umami edge. It’s vegetal as well, so brings tomatoes and tomato puree to mind. Lovely and bright, but I think it could have taken a bit more aging. Very nice nevertheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Penderyn 11yo 2008/2019 (TWE Exclusive)

Penderyn 11yo 2008/2019 (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - South Wales
Dark gold
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Barley sugar, pears, sultanas, nutmeg, hints of shortcrust pastry. With water, pear drops, blackcurrant cordial, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, sticky, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Marmalade, sultanas, pears, nectarines, butterscotch, shortcrust pastry. With water, sour, pear drops, nutmeg, cinnamon, blackcurrant cordial. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, cinnamon, nutmeg, applesauce. 

Comments: 

It's been a long time since I've managed to get my hands on a Penderyn. This one is cask strength, and it really shows. It's intensely jammy, with a beautiful fruity Ribena note. Lots of spices too, it's like eating a blackcurrant pie.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 128.5 (Penderyn 9 yo 2008/2015)

SMWS 128.5 (Penderyn 9 yo 2008/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - South Wales
Pale green gold
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, blueberries, blue raspberries, cherries, blackcurrant cordial, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, oily, slippery. 
Tasting: Sweet. Olive oil, blueberries, white grapes, blackcurrants, toast, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, honey, blueberries, muscat grapes. 

Comments: 

No, this was not a sherry cask, instead I believe it was a bourbon casked whisky. It's the character of Penderyn that produces that fruity, sweet white grape top note. Very drinkable, slight bitter spiciness on the tongue that makes it interesting and prevents it from being a parade of fruity notes. I like this whisky very much indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Penderyn Peated

Penderyn Peated

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Wales
Pale green
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, chocolate, plums, Chinese sour plums, leather, lemon zest, soy sauce, hints of oranges.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, chewy, slightly oily.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Peat, chocolate, white grapes, Chinese sour plums, chocolate, lemon zest, pear drops, hints of leather.
Finish: Medium. White grapes, peat, plums, leather, pear drops, hints of mint.

Comments:

Peaty, grapey, plummy, salty. This is the one special edition that tastes most like the flagship malt. Lots of leathery, tart yet fruity notes. Very enjoyable. I think this is my favourite Penderyn so far. More, please. Quickly, please.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Penderyn Sherrywood

Penderyn Sherrywood

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Wales
Dark gold
46% ABV 
Sampler

Nose: Chocolate, plums, chillies, old leather, orange peel, salt caramel, vanilla, red grapes.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, turns syrupy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Red grapes, raisins, old leather, chocolate, salt caramel, vanilla, orange peel, hints of chillies.
Finish: Short. Red grapes, salt caramel, orange peel, old leather, hints of chillies.

Comments:

Young, light whisky, heavily sherried. Good, complex, interesting nose, although the sherry influence is slightly overpowering on the tongue. There's a lot in here, nice notes of orange peel, floral chillies without the spiciness, savoury old leather. Pretty good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Penderyn Madeira Finish

Penderyn Madeira Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Wales
Golden
46% ABV 
Dram

Nose: Oranges, apricots, caramel, vanilla, white grapes, hints of white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, creamy, thickens. 
Tasting: Bitter sour. Apricots, caramel, vanilla, white chocolate, white grapes, white wine. 
Finish: Medium. White chocolate, white grapes, white wine. 

Comments: 

White everything! The madeira cask clearly imparts the winey notes, but the white chocolate and the fruit were surprises. Very tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 128.3 (Penderyn 5 yo 2006/2012)

SMWS 128.3 (Penderyn 5 yo 2006/2012)

2012, SMWSSingle malt - South Wales
Straw
61.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, raspberries, chestnut puree, chocolate, cherries. With water, pineapple, starfruit.

Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, foamy, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Chocolate, chestnut puree, raspberries, bananas, condensed milk. With water, vanilla, more milk.

Finish: Short. Chocolate, bananas, condensed milk, cherries. 

Comments: 

Yum yum! Very nice indeed. Surprisingly complex for its age. Penderyn always seems to be fruity. More of the same please, Welsh Whisky!

 Verdict:

 I like this a lot.

Penderyn Welsh Whisky

Penderyn Welsh Whisky

Official bottling
Single malt - South Wales
Bright gold
46% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Red grapes, Chinese sour plums, sea salt, raisins, leather, star anise, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens quickly, smooth, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, Chinese sour plums, leather, peaches, red wine, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Orange blossom, Chinese sour plums, leather.

Comments:

Madeira matured, possibly around 5 years old. Light, only a little rough, and oddly Chinese. Reminds me of an old sweet shop, with saccharine Chinese sour plums (not salty enough to be Japanese ume). Also reminds me a little of Oban, except that it's not smoky and it's not salty enough. Perhaps this is what Oban would be if it were a Lowlands whisky...

Verdict:

I like this a lot.