.penderyn - sherrywood

Sherry finished

46% abv, €35, single malt, non-chill filtered

Nose: young, fresh, sweet, vanilla, fruit, apples, bananas, raisins, butter, toffee, herbal, sage, rosemary
Palate: gentle, fruits, bananas, red fruits, raisins, orange, vanilla, toffee, nuts, pistachio nuts, floral, dry, onions
Finish: gentle, fruits, butter, nuts, sweet, vanilla
Score: +++++

Conclusion: From time to time I really fancy my whiskies to be Sherry matured. In most cases, I also like them to be Sherry finished. This is no exception on the rule and a full bottle of this beauty could find a place in our whisky cabinet and be enjoyed for the period that it will be there.

More info: This Welsh whisky has been matured on ex-Bourbon casks and is finished on ex-Oloroso Sherry butts for an unknown period.

.penderyn - portwood 41

41% abv, €45, single malt, non-chill filtered

Nose: gentle, wood, sweet, butterscotch, ripe banana, raisins soaked in rum, hay, biscuits
Palate: sweet, gentle, dry, oak, tanines, spicy, cinnamon, raisins, prunes, apricots
Finish: medium long, oak, semi-dry, fruits, plums, apricots
Mark: +++/++

Conclusion: This is nice as an after dinner dram, with some hard yellow cheese.

More info: Originally created for the export market and only available from the distillery shop and a few select outlets, due to its popularly they have decided to make Portwood 41 available to online customers. Bottled at 41% abv, Portwood 41 is matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in port casks, giving it a rich brown hue and a sweet, lingering finish (from the Penderyn website).

.penderyn - peat

Peat finish

46% abv, single malt, non-chill filtered

Nose: mild peat, slightly briny, fruits, raisins, sweet
Palate: gentle, sweet, fruits, fire, ash
Finish: spicy, ash, smoke, campfire, sour
Score: +++++

Conclusion: My taste for whisky got kick-started with some good, peaty Islay whiskies. This is nothing like that.
The barley has not been kiln dried above a peat fire, but the ex-Bourbon matured whisky has had a finish on casks that held Islay whiskies before. Not a favourite.

.penderyn - madeira

Madeira finished

46% abv, single malt, non-chill filtered

Nose: sharp, glue, young, sweet, fruit, strawberries, pineapple, breakfast cereals, vanilla
Palate: strong, fat, sweet, thick, vanilla, honey, nuts, dark chocolate, mint
Finish: lingering, banana, sweet, marmalade, orange zest, slightly bitter.
Score: +++++

Conclusion: Not bad at all. She lingers for a long time giving you a slightly bitter, marmalade afterthought. If you like that in your whiskies, this is a good one.

More info: The whisky has matured on ex-Bourbon casks, to have received a finish on ex-Madeira vessels. Both maturation periods are unknown.