Welsh distillery set to release its first single malt whiskey
AWELSH distillery is set to release its first single malt. Dà Mhìle Distillery, in Ceredigion, is about to release its first organic single malt Welsh whisky.
This first edition is named Tarion after Mr Chris Phillips, Da Mhile distillery’s, first patron’s family shield that is incorporated in the label. He decided to invest in Da Mhile’s first cask of organic single malt whisky in 2015.
It was Dà Mhìle Distillery’s first organic whisky, a single grain whisky matured in oak casks for four years, that allowed Wales to officially be called a whisky nation.
The European Union alcohol regulations states a country has to have at least two distilleries making and marketing whisky to be recognised as having a whisky industry.
Until Dà Mhìle’s single grain whisky Penderyn had been flying the flag alone for Wales for 20 years.
John-James Savage-Onstwedder, the distillery founder and manager, said the new single malt whisky has a great depth of flavour that belies its young age.
There are hints of honey on the nose and a rich spiciness on the palate, finishing with vanilla and oak.
Mr Savage-Onstwedder said: “After the success of our organic Welsh gins and single grain Welsh whisky over the past five years the bottling of our first organic single malt Welsh whisky is a milestone in the distillery’s development.
“Long term we aim to become a single estate whisky distillery which means that the organic barley we use to distil the whisky will be grown locally. Then the barley will be traditionally floor-malted on the farm, we will make the mash, distil the whisky, mature, bottle and label everything in-house on the farm.
“The ethos will remain the pursuit of excellence as is the case with Caws Teifi Cheese, our sister company, which over the years has become the most highly awarded raw milk cheese in the UK. I have always maintained that one cannot survive down a bumpy lane in rural Ceredigion by producing mediocrity. This first bottling our single malt is a testament to that ethos. This first bottling of our organic single malt whisky has been eagerly anticipated by whisky aficionados. As it is such a small limited edition it is bound to become a must-have for whisky collectors world-wide.”