Penderyn Bad Wolf, Icons of Wales – Release No.13/50 (bottled 2025), 46%

Introduction

Penderyn Bad Wolf is release No. 13 in the prestigious “Icons of Wales” series from Penderyn Distillery – Wales’ first and most acclaimed distillery in modern times. This special edition was created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bad Wolf Studios, the Cardiff-based production company behind a host of internationally acclaimed television productions, and beautifully symbolises a parallel journey: while Bad Wolf has told stories that have captivated the world from the heart of Wales, this whisky has quietly matured and waited for just the right moment.

Production Method

• Ingredients: Welsh grain distilled at Penderyn Brecon Distillery in the South Welsh Highlands, with a focus on artisanal quality and local character.
• Distillation process: Penderyn employs their distinctive single pot still distillation method with a unique Faraday column, producing a lighter, floral new make spirit of exceptional purity and finesse.
• Maturation: The whisky has been fully matured for 10 years in Tawny Port pipes – exceptional casks that have held port wine for up to 60 years. These aged casks impart a deep, wine-sweet and fruity character without overwhelming the delicacy of the distillate.
• Special techniques: The extended maturation in ancient Tawny Port pipes is the cornerstone of this release. Decades of port wine have left a distinctive mark of dried fruit, spice and natural sweetness, which integrates harmoniously with the Welsh single malt.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Delicate floral notes come forward first – orange blossom and soft rose petals – followed by the warm, spiced richness of fruit cake. A complex bouquet of red and golden raisins, fig conserve and fresh red berries, including ripe strawberries and fresh raspberries.
• Palate: A lush blend of simmered dark fruits and lighter orchard notes opens the palate with richness and grace. Sweetness and salinity dance in harmony, revealing layers of toffee, marzipan and bittersweet marmalade.
• Finish: The finish unfolds slowly, lingering long and evolving. Dried apricot and salted caramel linger with a dusting of nutmeg.

Serving Suggestions

• Serving temperature: Room temperature or slightly chilled to approximately 16–18°C to fully highlight the floral and fruity aromas.
• Glass recommendation: A tulip-shaped nosing glass or a Glencairn glass is recommended to concentrate the complex aromas and direct them optimally towards the nose.
• Serving ideas: Best enjoyed neat to experience the full depth and complexity. A few drops of still water can open the whisky further and enhance the floral and fruity notes.
• Food pairings: Pairs excellently with high-cocoa dark chocolate, blue cheese, candied dried fruits, walnuts or a classic Welsh rarebit made with aged cheese.

Product Specifications

• Alcohol content: 46% ABV
• Bottle size: 70 cl
• Country/region of origin: Wales, United Kingdom – distilled and matured at Penderyn Brecon Distillery
• Certifications/Awards: Part of the Penderyn Icons of Wales series, Release No. 13/50 – official bottling from Penderyn Distillery. Bottled in 2025 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bad Wolf Studios.

Summary

A Unique Tasting Experience

Penderyn Bad Wolf represents the rare meeting of artisanal distilling craftsmanship and 60-year-old Tawny Port pipes – a combination that creates a whisky of unrivalled depth, fruity elegance and enduring complexity.

With only 50 releases in the exclusive Icons of Wales series, this is an extraordinary rarity, and Bad Wolf represents just one of these special chapters – a bottle that is not only an expression of Welsh craftsmanship, but also a part of the story of one of Europe’s most significant cultural collaborations.

Penderyn is recognised as Wales’ answer to the great Scottish and Irish distilleries and has long received international acclaim for its uncompromising approach to quality and originality – a reputation that is clearly reflected in this special anniversary release.

Recognition from Connoisseurs

Bad Wolf Studios’ CEO and co-founder Jane Tranter herself describes it as “characteristically bad ass and unexpected” to mark the studio’s 10th anniversary with a whisky – a tribute that has won enthusiasm and support from whisky enthusiasts and culture lovers around the world.

Those who choose to add Penderyn Bad Wolf to their collection join an exclusive circle of collectors and whisky connoisseurs who appreciate whisky with soul, meaning and a genuine story behind every single glass.

Much like the finest stories from Bad Wolf Studios, this whisky manages to leave a lasting and memorable impression – an experience that those who have tasted it find themselves returning to time and again.

From Penderyn to You

With this release, Penderyn has sought to give something extraordinary back to all those who have followed the Welsh whisky revolution from the very beginning – a bottled piece of Wales’ cultural and culinary heritage.

There is something deeply authentic and warm about a whisky crafted with the same passion and dedication to storytelling that Bad Wolf Studios has brought to their television productions – a dram that both moves and inspires.

We invite you to raise your glass, savour the long and evolving finish and become part of the story that Penderyn and Bad Wolf have created together – for as Philip Pullman himself has written: “Tell them stories. They need the truth.”