A fantastic collection of iconic Welsh whisky.
I have amassed a significant collection of Penderyn whisky, which is probably the largest Welsh Whisky producer.
The collection started essentially by mistake. As you know we have always enjoyed Whisky so whilst on a visit to Cardiff, we decided to return home via the distillery in the Brecon Beacons. The Icons of Wales at this point was unknown to me.
We visited and went on the distillery tour. It was easily one of the best tours we have been on. The process was interesting and loads of questions asked and answered. There was the usual sample at the end. It included advice on the best way to enjoy the whiskey. Whether with a drop of water, a warm glass, or even as a cocktail, those tips were great. Those tips are ones we have taken with us since.
The tour came before our visit to the shop. We purchased a peated whisky there, which was our go-to at the time. In the shop however was the start of the Icons of Wales series. We didn’t buy at their point, but the seed was sown.
Christmas that year, I was gifted the start of my collection. It was the third bottle in the series which is focused around the Gareth Edwards try in Rugby for the Barbarians against the All Blacks. Widely regarded as the best try ever. This bottle went on the shelf ready to be opened. However, it was in a long line of gifts ready to be drunk.
Before the bottle had been opened, we came across the fifth in the series which was a tribute to Bryn Terfel the opera singer. One thing that stood out was the velvet bottle, so that went on the shelf as a showpiece. Suddenly, we had two of the first five bottles. It made sense to fill the gaps. Soon, we had an up to date collection of the series.
There was a big gap between the fifth and sixth bottles of the collection. My whisky collection had grown nicely in that period. I had shifted from collecting one-off limited editions. I started focusing on dedicated collections. One of these is now the Penderyn Icons of Wales. I also have the Lakes Founders Collection, Lagavulin Distillers Edition, and Ardbeg Committee releases.
Since 2019, I have made sure to be near the front of the queue when a new edition is released. The editions are bold and varied. Each one showcases a part of Welsh culture or history. They are the set that everyone comment on when they view my collection, and is a big conversation starter. With being Welsh that a great thing to see.
My favourites are the No5 with its red velvet bottle, No10 as it celebrates Wales getting to the football World Cup and No11 as the bottle comes in a transport crate.
I am really looking forward to continuing the collection and see what elements Penderyn bring to those in the future.
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