AFTER THREE and a half years of meticulous craftsmanship and unwavering dedication, Hensol Castle Distillery has announced its latest venture; a ground-breaking collaboration with Tiny Rebel Brewery to create a unique single malt Welsh whisky.
Since the launch of Hensol Castle Distillery, the Master Distiller, Dai Wakely, and his visionary team, have embarked on a journey of innovation and excellence, resulting in a series of triumphant product releases across multiple spirit categories.
Dai’s vision, combined with the technical expertise of Mark Gammons, the Head Brewer at Tiny Rebel, prompted the beginning of the collaboration.
For the past 18 months, Tiny Rebel has been contract brewing a bespoke 100% malted barley beer wash, according to Dai and Mark’s recipe, which serves as the foundation for the distillation process that happens back at Hensol Castle Distillery, yielding a whisky of unparalleled depth and character.
Exactly 12 months ago, the distillers laid down their first 200L ex-Jack Daniels barrel of Welsh single malt whisky.
Under the stewardship of Head Distiller Kyle Jones and Technical Distillery Carl Andrews, the distillery has refined its distillation techniques, drawing from a collective 30 years of expertise in craft liquid production.
Dai has since assumed a creative role, overseeing bottle design, cask souring and marketing strategies. He will work closely with Kyle to select barrels for further maturation, harnessing their collective expertise to shape the whisky’s distinctive profile.
Dai Wakely, Master Distillery at Hensol Castle Distillery, commented: “The pinnacle of being a distiller is to create a multitude of original single malts. The evolution of the whisky is a fascinating one; initially we noted flavours of banana and bubble gum, which matured into nuanced notes of vanilla, dried fruit and sweet spice, after resting in ex-bourbon barrels for 12 months.
“Working with Tiny Rebel has been a breeze. The turnaround time was remarkably quick, and the beer wash received is consistently of the highest quality. Together we’ve crafted what I believe to be a timeless elixir that promises to captivate whisky enthusiasts worldwide, and we’re hoping to carve ourselves a place alongside other esteemed Welsh distilleries, such as Penderyn and Aberfalls.”
Hensol Castle Distillery has the capacity to bottle up to six million bottles of spirits per annum, currently serving 80 worldwide brands. What’s more, in the relatively short time since the distillery launched in 2021, its own three Hensol Castle gins have won numerous gold medals, including Best in Country at this year’s World Gin Award and an additional 15 gold medals won for contract bottling clients in 2023.