Wales | NYC Whiskey Review

Penderyn – Celt

April 15, 2026 Wales

Name: Penderyn – Celt

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malted barley, peat, lemon citrus, flowers

Taste: Malted barley, peat, citrus, oak, green grass

The Penderyn Distillery was founded in 2000 and is in the Village of Penderyn near Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. I am big fan of Penderyn, but it is hard to find in the stores and sadly I do not see it on the shelves of most bars in the NYC area.

Celt is 100% malted barley, non-aged stated, non-chilled filtered, and natural colored. It is aged in ex-bourbon and peated quarter casks and bottled at 40% abv. The balance is very good with a touch of cream on the finish. This expression is a softer and fresh tasting expression with a touch of peat that is forward on the nose and palate, but not overpowering. The balance is very nice and the light peat and citrus flavors work well together. If you are interested in getting into peated whiskey’s I would recommend you start with this expression.

Penderyn Celt expression is part of “Dragon Series” which contains Celt, Legend, and Myth. I am going to take a guess they call it “Dragon Series” due to the Welsh Flag, but I have an American education so I don’t know much.

Priced around $65+ and worth the money. I have not had a bad Penderyn whiskey yet!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples, and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

Penderyn – Peated Finish

February 4, 2026 Wales

Name: Penderyn – Peated Finish

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, white fruit, vanilla

Taste: Peat, white fruits, light oak, vanilla, fresh spring water

The Penderyn Distillery was created in 2000 and is in the Village of Penderyn near Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales, UK. I am big fan of Penderyn, but it is hard to find in the stores and sadly I do not see it on the shelves of most bars in the NYC area.

Peated Finish is a medium-light bodied, fresh smelling and tasting whisky. It has flavors of fresh white fruits, cream vanilla, and a fair amount of peat, but not too much mask the other flavors. The baseline all the Penderyn’s I have sampled (more coming this year) is a fresh spring water taste which makes the whisky go down like spring water. Buyers & Drinkers beware; you can consume a fair amount of this whisky in one sitting.

Penderyn Peated Finish expression is part of “Gold Range”. Peated is non-aged stated, non-chilled filtered, and non-colored. It is aged in ex-bourbon and peated scotch barrels and bottled at 46% abv. If you are interested in getting into peated whisky I would recommend you start with this expression. However, if you immediately jump into the big boy peated whiskies like Laphroaig or Lagavulin you will be shocked and might lose your interest.

Penderyn Gold Range Series contains the following: Peated Finish, Sherrywood, Portwood, Rich Oak, & Maderia Finish. The photo below is their sample 3-pack.

Priced around $55-60 and worth the money if you like fresh tasting peated whisky.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples, and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

Penderyn Madeira Single Malt Welsh Whisky

November 18, 2021 Wales

Name: Penderyn Madeira Single Malt

Color: Light gold yellow

Nose: Clean fresh spring water with citrus and tarnish fruit.

Taste: Clean and creamy with a fresh taste and a finish of the Madeira

Review:

I could write a very long review with numerous stories about each person’s facial expression after I gave them a dram of this whisky but that would take too long. I can tell you this, everyone gave me the same look after they tasted Penderyn Madeira. They sip, look down, scrunch their face and then say “Damn that’s good!” This spirit is like spring water and whisky had a baby and this is the baby in the bottle. It is extremely good, refreshing and different. I enjoy this one if I am going to have one (or two) or after dinner. Normally the creamy taste of whisky’s is not my preferred taste but this one is an exception. I highly recommend it!

Price around $70 it is a great value.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Penderyn Legend Single Malt

December 25, 2020 Wales

Name: Penderyn Legend Single Malt

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Fresh white fruit, raisins, pear/apple, cream

Taste: Fresh pears, apples, cream, madeira finish

Review:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Best wishes to everyone after this long year in 2020. Let’s hope and plan for a great 2021!!!

Penderyn Legend is a expression that has been releases by the Penderyn Distillery in the last couple of years. Legend has finally made its way to our American shores. I saw this expression a couple of years ago in a liquor store in Glasgow Central Station and wondered about it as the red box and label stood out on the shelf. A the time, I had only tired the Madeira Finish which is one of the freshest tasting whisky’s I have ever sampled.

Penderyn comes from the Village of Penderyn near Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. Wales is the country to the left of England and connected the United Kingdom.

The Legend expression is bottled at 43% abv, non-colored, and non-chill filtered. It has madeira finish notes while still being light and fresh instead of heavy and creamy. It comes off as the lighter version of their Madeira Finish at a lesser price point. It is a great summer whiskey or a whiskey for non-whiskey drinkers who want to try a dram. Other expressions produced are the following: Penderyn Single Malt, Sherrywood, Celt, That Try, Myth, Royal Welsh, Port Wood, Peated, Independence, Bryn Terfel, and the Madeira Finish.

Penderyn makes some excellent whiskey. Everyone who I have ever offered a drink of Penderyn always smiles after sipping it and says “wow”! Next time I am in the London I am going to focus on sampling their whiskey or perhaps take a road trip to the distillery.

Priced around $55 and well worth the money if you like a fresh tasting whiskey.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Penderyn – Celt

Penderyn – Peated Finish

Penderyn Madeira Single Malt Welsh Whisky

Penderyn Legend Single Malt

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