Penderyn 2013 Ex-Bourbon Single Cask 9 yo

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Every year, this distillery bottles several Single Cask releases, reserved for true connoisseurs of this style, as they highlight its remarkable character, thanks to its famous Faraday still. This release is one of the highest-rated on Whiskybase, it spent 9 years in a single American oak ex-Bourbon barrel, without a trace of peat, resulting in a run of just 212 bottles.  

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Bourbon with a very slight chemical note, Williams pear, ethereal vanilla, it’s delicately floral and tinged with baking soda. Cut hay, effervescent cereals, crushed thumbtacks, industrial paint, aspirin tablets. Subtle mineral undertones, limestone, chalk powder, crushed almonds. Banana-flavored soy delight, custard cream. On the palate, the attack is lively, with pastry-like flavors, sweet malt, orchard fruits, pears and peaches, vanilla and lemon roundness from the American oak. Gentle spices that lead to a long finish, orange shortbread cookies, a touch of anise, citrus zest, whipped cream, mild woody and waxy aftertaste. 

 

In Short, 

I loved the nose, which is extremely mineral and very light, yet fruity, with that chemical nuance, which is the very essence of the distillery, clearly highlighted here. The rest is excellent, the finish is long and truly flavorful. This is one of the best Penderyns I’ve ever tasted, and at a reasonable price, fans of this style shouldn’t hesitate to try it. 

Score : 90+       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Ana Avramov - Voda

Penderyn 2010 Collection Itinéraires 15 yo

 

 

 

56,8°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales 

Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Single Cask 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Fifteen years is not a particularly common age for Penderyn, which opened in 2000. The second advantage is that this whisky has been matured in a single Bourbon cask, allowing the distillery’s character to fully develop. Only 102 bottles were drawn from the cask and included in the Collection Itinéraires, launched by La Maison du Whisky on the occasion of Whisky Live Paris 2025, for sale primarily in France. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Honey dripping from your fingers and ripe fruit, mirabelle plums, Reine-Claude plums, quince jam, Conference pears, yellow apples. Candle wax and rich floral notes, lacquered wood, creamy vanilla and a zest of lemon. On the palate, the fruit is even more pronounced, baked apples, Belle Hélène pear drizzled with chocolate, plum clafoutis, crumble sprinkled with cinnamon, black pepper. A long, explosive finish where the oak comes to the fore, liquorice, dried vanilla, fruit paste, shortbread biscuits, a warm chestnuts. 

 

In Short, 

It’s just the right age, here we have a riot of fruit, with notes of wax and elegant wood, generous honey – everything needed to make a fine whisky. The 10-year-old was still a little shy, more mineral, this one is perfectly mature. The price remains high, however, but with such a rare product, that’s hardly surprising. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Nessi Gomes - All Related

Penderyn 2015 Collection Itinéraires 10 yo

 

 

 

60,2°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales  

Bourbon Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Part of the Collection Itinéraires launched by La Maison du Whisky to mark Whisky Live Paris 2025, this Penderyn is notable for being made from Welsh barley. Then a single Bourbon cask, 10 years of ageing, and the job is done. 218 bottles were filled and released for sale primarily on the French market. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A very fresh nose, cereal-like, freshly cut wheat and barley, slightly mineral, floral and minty, creamy vanilla, macerated lemon, chopped orchard fruits, apples and pears, pulp-filled mango and pineapple. A metallic and chlorinated note. Airy, fruity, herbaceous, oaky on the palate, reeds and very ripe yellow plums, honey and soya milk, greengage jam. Discreet spices, white pepper. An intense, deep finish, flaked almonds, white grapes, more candied vanilla, sliced lime. A pinch of salt, crème fraîche. 

 

In Short, 

This is typical of the distillery, there’s always that slight medicinal and metallic twist, accompanied by a lovely abundance of fruit. This is because of the Faraday stills, which have just a single heater and two columns. It’s a beautiful experience, with lovely complexity. However, the price is too high for my liking. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Freja - Falling Star

Penderyn 2010 Artist #10 International 10 yo

 

 

 

60,8°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

2d Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

In 2020, La Maison du Whisky celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Artist range, even though it was created in 2011. But it's true that this is the 10th batch. To mark the occasion, 13 bottlings are being launched, 7 of which are not from Scotland, that is Artist #10 International. Among them, this 10-year-old Penderyn has been aged in a 2d Fill Bourbon Barrel, to allow the distillate to develop its full potential. 211 bottles were released. The artwork on the label, named Kor, was created by Eric Robin.

Let's Taste It : 

The distillery is immediately recognisable, thanks to its atypical profile. Wood glue, grapefruit pulp, coconut milk. Gelatine sweets, light vanilla, a few hints of cereal. It becomes more herbaceous with aeration, with chives and peppermint. On the palate, ripe pears and rosewater, white peaches, some exotic fruit, lychee, papaya, fairly discreet spices, cloves, nutmeg, a few wisps of tobacco. The finish is long and well controlled, with cardamom, liquorice, yellow apples, reeds, a medicinal touch, but it is also fruity, with redcurrants. Bark, chocolate chips.

In Short, 

This is truly the profile of the distillery in all its depth and quintessence. I've tasted better and more balanced Penderyns before, but never with so much character and personality. I highly recommend it for fans of this unique distillery, with its famous Faraday still. The price, however, is outrageous.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Jake Blount - Death Have Mercy

Penderyn 2010 Ex-Bourbon Single Cask 13 yo

 

 

 

59,9°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

2d Fill Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

Specially bottled for La Maison du Whisky and sold exclusively by the same shop under the New Vibrations label, this 13-year-old Penderyn Single Cask produced exactly 182 bottles. It has been entirely distilled in the Faraday still acquired by the distillery in 2000, which promises a great intensity of flavour.

Let's Taste It : 

Wood glue, airy iodine, mineral hints, the nose is typically Penderyn. Fresh and sweet, with indulgent white fruits and pastry cream. A whiff of woody vanilla. Cinnamon leaf. On the palate, we have the markers of Bourbon, floral honey, ripe yellow plums, some juicy pears and a more gulping vanilla. It's frankly spicy, which gives it great depth. The finish is very well done, custardy, whipped cream, mille-feuilles, dusted with icing sugar. Crunchy shortbread. Dry earth, peppermint.

In Short, 

Truly the quintessence of Penderyn, all distillery fanatics will love it. The downside is that it lacks a little variety and originality, it's Penderyn and nothing else, the cask influence is fairly discreet, there's no special touch, except perhaps in the finish. But this is a very fine bottling, because it is totally representative of this excellent distillery. Unfortunately sold at a prohibitive price, it will be reserved for the wealthy and speculative, not necessarily for true lovers.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Opeth - Windowplane

SMWS 2013 128.25 Radical Juice 8 yo

 

 

 

62,6°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales 

2d Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Founded in 1983 by Pip Hills, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an enthusiast club and trading company with an excellent reputation, producing a wide variety of bottlings throughout the year. This one is a Penderyn aged in 2nd fill Bourbon casks, which allows the distillate to blossom. 214 bottles were released and quickly sold out.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Right from the first nose, it surprises with its robustness, but also with the variety of its fruits. Peaches, melons, pineapple, ripe pears, coniferous forest, heather earth. On the palate, as fruity as ever, but more exotic, mango, guava, passion fruit, but also a bit herbaceous, tall herbs, candied angelica, rhubarb. Explosive spices, cloves, cumin. Intense and powerful finish. Coal, black bread, hot chestnuts, rich, damp earth, humus. A touch of limestone.

In Short, 

Another astonishing and delightful expression from the Welsh distillery, a flood of fruits and conifers. Quite different from the other Penderyns I've tasted, but you can expect anything from SMWS. Now unobtainable, I'm afraid we'll have to make do with a future bottling.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Tame Impala - Runway Houses City Clouds

Penderyn 2010 Zn09 Série Samouraï 12 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

2nd Fill Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit 

Limired Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Zero Nine Spirits, is a new French bottler, founded in 2022. And this Penderyn is their very first whisky, as they mostly do Armagnac and Rum. It was distilled in a Faraday still, which is a still with a single fractionating column, so that it makes a purer alcohol. Ageing was in a single second-fill Bourbon cask, in order to leave the spotlight to the distillate. Only 120 bottles were produced, almost all sold before bottling, thanks to a well-oiled reservation system. This is the 6th of the Samurai Series, that's why you can see a samouraï drawn on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very fruity nose at first, on juicy pear, white peach, mirabelle. It's mellow and sweet, vanilla mousse, candied lemon, whipped cream, before the more typical elements of the distillery appear, varnished wood, chestnut bogue, shavings, black earth. On the palate, the fruits return, white plum, apricot and yellow apple, but also cereals, muesli and dried fruits, with very well-managed spices, pepper and ginger. Long finish, just the right amount of explosion, charcoal and terracotta, candied quinces, angelica, cloves.

 

In Short, 

The nose and the finish are really subtle, it's very fruity and a little floral, with a finesse rarely seen in the world of whisky. The price is a bit high, especially for a 50 cl bottle, but it's a must have if you like this distillery even a bit. It can still be found on some french sites, at more or less the same price as the outlet one.

Score: 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Bomba Estéreo - El Alma y el Cuerpo

Penderyn Madeira Finish

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Penderyn -Wales

Bourbon Barrels and Madeira Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Malt

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloutred

Totally Unpeeated

 

  

It seems that it was in 2010 that Penderyn launched a new element of the Core Range with a Madeira barrel finish, called Aur Cymru. Yes, there are languages where words like this exist. And it took 8 years, until 2018, for them to come up with the idea to change it, and just call it Madeira Finish. Incredible that it took so long. That said, the recipe hasn't changed, with a first maturation in Evan Willams Bourbon casks, and a finish of which the duration remains a secret.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Wood glue, ointment, but it's very measured. Vanilla, some white fruits, nuts, and at the same time it's creamy, delicate. Hand cream, citrus coulis, a hint of blood orange and pineapple. On the palate, well balanced, smooth and robust, still vanilla with a touch of mirabelle and a nice velvety caress, slightly woody and mineral. It’s a bit metallic, on iron filings. Proper finish, nuts, cola, whole almonds. Traces of coconut, golden sand. Zest of lemon. 

 

In Short, 

The balance is quite amazing, between a rough side, with varnish and wood glue, and another one very fruity and creamy. Although it's a NAS, it's not so young. I really enjoyed it, and to be honest, I'm window shopping here and there, since the price is quite attractive.

Score : 87  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          The Barr Brothers - Love ain't Enough

Penderyn Rhiannon

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Hogsheads, Grand Cru French Red Wine Finish

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2012, Penderyn came up with the idea of launching a range of 50 different bottlings, called Icons of Wales, at the rate of one a year. This should take us up to 2061, except that we're already behind schedule, as we're still waiting for the 8th edition, which should have been released last year. So this Rhiannon is the latest icon to pay tribute to all the key figures and events in this amazing region of Wales. Rhiannon means "great queen" in Middle Welsh, and is a female character from the mythical story The Mabinogi, written between the 14th and 15th centuries, but whose oral tradition dates back to antiquity. She is a strong, free woman who refuses to marry the man she has been promised.

Let's Taste It : 

A bitter note, like ginger ale. Wood glue. It's quite mineral, rocky, with some rare herbs. A slight sweetness in the background, on soft caramel, quince paste. Candied chestnut. A few hints of iodine and citrus, which eventually dominate. Dried fig, salt shards. On the palate, lemon, limestone, ginger, a hint of lychee and wood. But it's light overall. The finish is quite long and syrupy, but not so powerful. A touch of acid and vanilla. Wood peel and charcoal. Fine sand.

In Short, 

It's not bad, I like this slightly austere minerality. On the other hand, I think it lacks a bit of personality. The finish in Sherry casks and French wine casks is barely noticeable, which is a shame.

Score : 83

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon