Since it’s inception in 2000, the flagship Penderyn distillery in the Brecon Beacons has been producing its signature malt whisky using its Faraday still. This has been an unpeated spirit, i.e. it has been without any peated malt barley in the mix. Their second site in Llandudno was opened in 2021 with peat in mind however, and their third one in Swansea (set to open this Summer) potentially also set to be targeted with producing a peaty potion.
Long before these new sites were built however, there has been a “Peated” release within the Penderyn Gold range. Where does the peat come from, you ask? Well it comes courtesy of Laphroaig.
Yes, the Penderyn Peated release gets all of its peaty influence from been housed in small ‘quarter’ casks which used to hold the world famous/infamous Islay peat monster.
As with all entrants in the Gold range, the Peated expression builds on the Penderyn signature base spirit and is currently available in the tall and bold Penderyn bottles, captured at 46% ABV without any age statement, chill-filtration, or colouring.
Nose
This simply reminds me of Autumn. The orchard fruits, the woodsmoke, and a vegetal dried leaf smell. Lovely stuff. Proper woodsmoke too. Nice big dry logs on an open fire. Almost a smoky bacon smell – or at least bacon flavoured crisps! It is not strongly peaty smoke really, it smells more like tobacco leaf.
Taste
This might be a niche note but the Peated taste reminds of a traditional lemon and sugar pancake – presumably with the edges of the pancake burnt. There’s a real citrus fresh flavour to a very light body. Maybe some bananas on that pancake too, as the classic Penderyn base spirit’s banana sweets flavour is there again, with a gentle dry smoky closer.
Finish
A fairly decent length with a touch of spice but a predominantly sweet and lightly peated tingle trails behind.
Verdict
As with all expressions within the Penderyn Gold series, the casks on show here are demonstrating their influence on the Penderyn spirit, rather than being the main profile or dominating character.
Though its name is simply “Peated”, I think real peatheads would be disappointed with this. It is more of a peat flavoured whisky than a peat bomb, which you might expect. In other words: your head would stay on your shoulders for this one, rather than being blown off, like it would if you were drinking the original Laphroaig spirit that was originally in those quarter casks.
That said, it may pique the interests of the curious peathead – this is basically a passive high in terms of peat content, and its interesting to see the effects of it on the Penderyn malt. Definitely one to be tried alongside its non-peated counterparts to see where the original spirit has been taken. It could even be a gateway dram for the uninitiated into the land of peat.
M
Sample disclosure: I have tasted this whisky on numerous occasions, and have compiled the tasting notes from my own purchases as well as miniatures received some as a gift from family and as part of a Tweet Tasting. All notes are intended as an honest, fair, and independent review of the whisky, and not as a promotion. Please drink responsibly. Please drink wisely.
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