Penderyn Ex-Tawny Port Pipe - 59.6%
From The Spirits Embassy website
This whisky matured in ex-bourbon cask and then transferred to a tawny port pipe. It is a ‘part single’ cask, and one of only 165 bottles at 59.6% abv.
Nose: Salted caramel, black grapes initially, then plum and gooseberry jam notes emerge.
Taste: A sweet and juicy cornucopia of red fruits - raspberry, strawberry and cranberry.
Finish: Black grapes take us to the heart of a vineyard, and aromas and flavours of black fruits (cherry and blackcurrants) deliver a strong finish.
Tasting notes
Appearance: Beautiful tawny colour with a deep rose hue. Forms an inverted crown which gradually falls as slow, thick, oily legs.
Nose: Sweet and very fruity, dark fruit including plums, purple grape skin and sloes. Salted caramel toffee and a slightly sour citrus kiwi fruit note appear with time in the glass.
Palate: Soft red fruit preserve, heavy on the raspberry. Caramel and vanilla play a supporting role, together with a sizeable spicy hit thanks to the high abv. A few drops of water bring out even more fruit but adds tannic dryness.
Finish: Long and filled with fruit. Ripe Morello cherries and purple table grapes at first, a strong note of blackcurrant suddenly appears at the close and lingers with a gradual increase of peppery spice.
Summary: A whisky with real character, the influence of the tawny port pipe is huge both in colour and the deep fruit notes. Rich and robust, the high abv means this is a malt which takes no prisoners. Addition of water brings even more fruit, and opens up the whisky to let the delightful blackcurrant note take centre stage in the finish.
Penderyn whiskies have often left me with a feeling of ‘what might have been’. Although perfectly drinkable there is the lasting impression that they could be so much more. This is the whisky which bucks that trend and shows how much can be achieved with their spirit. It may still feel like a young whisky and could be slightly better balanced, but I have to tip my hat to Penderyn as they have produced a malt which is big, bold and uncompromising.
At £100 it’s expensive, but in the current climate it’s not excessive for a cask strength, limited edition whisky. It won’t be to everyone’s taste but if you like port finished whisky, and particularly whiskies with big fruit notes, then this is well worth looking for.
If you would like to know more about Penderyn and their whiskies, follow the link to the company website.
Transparency: This sample was part of a 6 dram sample set, purchased from The Spirits Embassy. No goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested for this independent review.
