Wales is on course to securing the right to use the phrase ‘whisky industry’, after a second distillery opened in the west of the country.
Dà Mhìle Distillery in Ceredigion has announced the release of its first whisky, joining Penderyn – based on the edge of the Brecon Beacons – which has been Wales’ only whisky distillery for 20 years.
The European Union’s alcohol regulations specifically state that a country has to have at least two distilleries making and marketing whisky to be recognised as having a whisky industry.
Dà Mhìle Distillery was officially opened four years ago with the help of grants from the Welsh government’s Agri Food Development Fund, in the process becoming the first micro-distillery in Wales. It has now released its first batch of organic Welsh whisky. Once all the whisky has been bottled and labelled, it will be ready for sale and Wales will gain the right to call its domestic production of whisky an ‘industry’.
Dà Mhìle distiller John Savage-Onstwedder said: “This very first limited edition is a whisky of the highest quality and bodes well for the future. For the past four years, we have been laying down more stocks and we look forward to 2019, when we will be launching our first single-malt whisky. We’re very proud to be part of this unique venture and helping to get Wales on the whisky map.”
Dà Mhìle’s organic whisky will be Wales’ first ever single-grain whisky which has been maturing in oak casks for four years. The colour is amber and the taste is lightly peated, sweet vanilla, the firm said.
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