Penderyn Madeira (46%, OB, 2012)

• 46% ABV, £35 for 70cl
• Score: 83/100

What they say:

The Gold Medal award winning single malt whisky from the only distillery in Wales. Our unique distilled single malt whisky is matured in bourbon barrels and finished in Madeira casks to impart a generous flavour of subtle complexity.

The Madeira finish single malt Welsh whisky defines our ‘house style of whiskies’.  Distilled in our unique copper pot still, matured in bourbon barrels, finished in rich Madeira wine casks and bottled at premium strength, this single malt whisky is smooth, light in character and softly golden in colour.

At a generous 46% ABV, it has a classic freshness with aromas of cream toffee, rich fruit and raisins. The palate is crisp and finely rounded, with the sweetness to balance an appetising dryness. Notes of tropical fruit, raisins and vanilla persist in the finish.

Winner of the Best World Whisky, Gold Medal at the 2012 International Whisky Competition

What I say:

I had been wanting to try non-scotch whisky for a while and came across this sampler set from the Penderyn distillery in Wales. Consisting of 3 x 5cl bottles of their finished expressions [Madeira, Sherrywood & Peated], this set cost around £12 in the duty free shop. The Penderyn Madeira is a rather perky and quirky little dram, the sweet floral malt combines well with the Madeira cask maturation which adds a fruity sweetness and depth.

Colour:

Full gold

Nose:

Sweet perfumed, peach jelly, malted barley and floral hyacinths

Taste:

Sweet, mellow and warming, like molten brandy butter on tarte aux peches with vanilla custard, some cereal barley malt and almond with apricot come through like battenburg sponge cake

Finish:

Peach and apricot fruits, honey sweetness, slightly sour aftertaste and eventually the finish lacks a little depth to back up the punch of the peachy flavours becoming almost synthetic [i.e. peach flavouring]

Would I buy it again:

Of the three Penderyn expressions we tried this definitely came out on top as the favourite! The Madeira finish really compliments the core distillate flavours of the Penderyn whisky and adds complexity, body and depth as well as distinct fruity flavours. This expression is the one I would be most tempted to purchase a 70cl bottle of, and luckily for me it is available in our local supermarket [ASDA] so I’ll be expecting to be stocking a bottle in the cupboard soon then!