Penderyn Peated

A fresh clean peaty aroma, like a sea breeze carrying some smoke and mown grass? Somehow astringent and clinical.

It delivers a strong attack on the taste buds hinting at its youth and the moderately high ABV. The peat influence is quite woody and bitter. There is some apple fruitiness but it’s not sweet enough to balance or mask the bitterness. The finish is fresh and bitter with some smoke.

It’s quite a refreshing astringent malt, and in the right circumstances it might slip down unnoticed, but purely as a drink it’s a little too flawed to impress.

I hope this is just a bad batch, but J. Murray seems to consistently score this expression quite low, so perhaps not and this is one to avoid.

Penderyn are the clever Welsh whisky wizards who are really going up in my estimation. I really am impressed and they are another example of a non Scottish European single malt that is able to run with the pack. Obviously Scotland has the quantity as well as the quality. Wales might only have 1 distillery but they are certainly packing a punch.

The colour is pale straw with a real sparkle. The nose has a faint wisp of smoke and iodine.

In the glass there is an oily viscosity that you often associate with older malts. You get vanilla, citrus, honey, slightly floral and then gentle smoke.

The finish has a twist of cooling peppermint as the smoke gently fades.

This is not an Islay and doesn't try to be. Normally when you see the word "peated" you think Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and the big flavours of Islay.

This is a different beast. It is aged in ex-bourbon barrels first and then ex-peated casks. I have it on extremely good authority that these are Buffalo Trace followed by Laphroaig quarter casks. The fact that the spirit is not actually peated but the peat influence is through barrel finish adds a lovely dimension and subtly. Out of the whole range, this is my favourite expression.

I love that Penderyn bottle at 46%, it really lets the whisky showcase itself. The peated expression is very pale. The malted barley is not actually peated but the peat is imparted by storing the spirit in scotch casks that previously held peated Whisky.

The nose offers light smoke, floral and melon.

On the power the smoke is light but not over powering and then fades to fruit. Apple and vanilla.

The finish is fairly long spicy, fading fruit, and lingering light smoke.

It is smooth and light and I do really like it. If anything it doesn't really know what it is. It's not peaty enough to satisfy "peat heads" like an Islay and its fruity but not quite "juicy" enough to be a full on summer dram. It is an intriguing mixture which kind of sets its own place. If you want an Islay or Longrow then this might not be for you but if you want a nicely put together, classy malt which is different from the big peat bogs then this could be it.

Nose: A really different peat monster than I was expecting. The peat is here, no doubt, it’s very clear, but it’s masked by a very sweet, fruity, tropical smell. Strawberries, Ripe Melons mixed with some Rye (yes, I mean it , RYE!) notes. All very A-typical.

Palate: This is a young one, the peat is rather strong and in its prime. Don’t expect an Islay peat monster but this is potent fresh young peat. Some fruity notes here as well, some grassy notes as well. Not very rounded.

Finish: Peat, pepper,remains of the fruit (Apricot?)

Bottom line:

This is a very young, and not very complex Peated whisky from the Welsh guys at Penderyn. It’s not bad, but for that price you can get wonderful peated malts which are more mature, and convincing. I loved the Madeira, and this one is not in par with it in my opinion. If you love peated malts, and feel like experimenting, it’s a nice option, but don’t get your hopes too high.

A long time ago I posted my notes on the Penderyn Madeira cask, which was a lovely whisky, very sweet, and exotic. A short time afterwards Penderyn distillery were kind enough to send over a sample set consisting of this peated whisky, and a sherried expression. I tasted those a long time ago, but for some reason (senility,backlog) did not post them here. So here goes.

Nose: A really different peat monster than I was expecting. The peat is here, no doubt, it’s very clear, but it’s masked by a very sweet, fruity, tropical smell. Strawberries, Ripe Melons mixed with some Rye (yes, I mean it , RYE!) notes. All very A-typical.

Palate: This is a young one, the peat is rather strong and in its prime. Don’t expect an Islay peat monster but this is potent fresh young peat. Some fruity notes here as well, some grassy notes as well. Not very rounded.

Finish: Peat, pepper,remains of the fruit (Apricot?)

Bottom line:

This is a very young, and not very complex Peated whisky from the Welsh guys at Penderyn. It’s not bad, but for that price you can get wonderful peated malts which are more mature, and convincing. I loved the Madeira, and this one is not in par with it in my opinion. If you love peated malts, and feel like experimenting, it’s a nice option, but don’t get your hopes too high.

Nose: peat of course but quite sweet and accompanied by something musty. It's like a hint of sweaty sock - not dissimilar to the smell you get with some parma ham. Interesting but I can't make up my mind if I like it.

Taste: sweeter than I expected given that this is labelled a peated expression, I know that many peaty whiskies are sweet but some how my expectation was for something dryer and smokier. It also tastes quite spirity to me, there is no age statement on the bottle so I wonder if this is simply a little too young?

Finish: once the spirity burn subsides the finish comes quite quickly with a short and not very satisfying sweetness.

Comments: overall I'm not bowled over by this whisky - I preferred the sherried expression I tried recently from the same distillery.

That being said its not bad - just maybe not to my taste. I wonder if this might be a good one for a beginner who wants to taste something peaty but isn't ready for the gems of Islay. The sweetness might sugar the pill so to speak. For me it wouldn't be a go to whisky.

It's worth pointing out the packaging is beautiful.