Penderyn - Madeira - 5cl

Penderyn Madeira 5cl is a miniature bottling of Penderyn Distillery's Madeira finished single malt Welsh whisky, bottled at 46% ABV. It offers a convenient way to try one of the core expressions from Penderyn's range in a smaller format, whether as an introduction to Welsh whisky, a gift, or simply a single measure to enjoy without opening a full bottle.

Penderyn is produced by the Welsh Whisky Company, established in 1998 when a group of friends in a Hirwaun pub set out to revive whisky distilling in Wales after more than a century without it. The first spirit ran from the stills at the Penderyn distillery, in the Brecon Beacons National Park, in September 2000, using water from the site's own natural spring. The whisky is produced using a single distinctive copper pot still, a method that sets it apart from the traditional double distillation used at most Scotch whisky distilleries, giving Penderyn whiskies their own particular character.

The Madeira expression is matured in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in casks that previously held Madeira wine, a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of the same name. This finishing gives the whisky a light golden colour, achieved naturally as it is bottled without chill filtration or added colouring. On the nose it offers cream toffee, rich fruit and raisins. The palate is crisp and finely rounded, with a sweetness that balances an appetising dryness, and citrus and honey notes running alongside orange and lemon. The finish is long and lingering, with a gentle touch of spice.

Served neat or with a small amount of water, this whisky is well suited to being nosed and tasted slowly in a tulip shaped glass, where its toffee and fruit aromas can develop. Its sweetness and citrus character make it a good match for desserts built around orange, dried fruit or caramel, and it also works well alongside a cheese board, particularly with a mild to medium cheddar or a creamy blue.

This 5cl format is a practical way to sample Penderyn Madeira before committing to a full bottle, or to include in a wider tasting alongside other Welsh whiskies. It carries all the character of the full size bottling, in a measure suited to a single serving or a considered gift.