Whisky firm postpones its birthday celebrations
THE Welsh Whisky Company, producers of multiaward-winning Penderyn Single Malt Whisky, has kicked into touch planned 20th-birthday celebrations.
The cancellation is due to the continuing uncertainties surrounding Covid-19 and social distancing.
“It is with a very heavy heart that we have called off our 20th birthday celebration, but it’s only a postponement,” said Penderyn Distillery CEO Stephen Davies.
After Welsh Whisky was first distilled in 2000, four years later The Prince of Wales opened the Welsh Whisky Company for business in 2004.
For 20 years, the Welsh Whisky Company’s allfemale distilling team have brought the brand to the world, with distribution now to more than 40 countries.
The team at Penderyn, based near Hirwaun, Aberdare, are big supporters of The Welsh rugby team.
Penderyn dedicated the fifth bottle in their Icons of Wales series to Welsh Opera singer Bryn Terfel, with a bourbon cask whisky at 41% abv, the first time they have ever commemorated on a ‘living legend’.
“Social-distancing is making gatherings of any size rather awkward and perilous this side of Christmas,” said Stephen Davies, CEO of Penderyn Distillery.
Instead, all efforts are being poured into making 21st birthday celebration coincide with the launch of Penderyn’s new Wales distillery.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Penderyn, has had to swap whisky distilling for making Penderyn hand sanitiser.
The new £5m Llandudno distillery and visitor centre has just received planning permission to convert the Old Board School dating back to 1882 on Lloyd Street, Llandudno. north
The Welsh Government offered £1.4m cash to aid the expansion and it received the stamp of approval from Lord ElisThomas, Welsh Government’s deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism.
Ironically, this was backdropped by the distillery achieving its biggest ever gold medal haul at the San Francisco Spirits Competition 2020.