Penderyn Celt

Berry raisins, sweetness, moderate heat pepper 3.75 Light and delicate, creamy, berry raisin sweetness, fruity, floral - good for a day when I want something lighter 3 Fruity sweetness and light oakiness, moderate sustain 3 3.25 -Second tasting- Creamy, sweetness, fruity, pear, low pepper 4 Peppery hit upfront, oaky, vanilla, revealing more fruity notes like pears, 1.5 Oaky 1.5 2.25 Penderyn Celt Welsh Whisky ABV 41% Sweet corn aroma, floral, artificial sugar 3.5 Mildly spicy with a little complexity on the first sip, but it's actually quite good. It's a fairly clean drink; on the finish, you get hit with mild pepper and oak, nutty, briny. Not much sweetness, more of an oak flavor 2.5 Supposed to be finished in a peated cask, but I don't really get much peat or smoke from this; it's more oak bitterness for me. 2 2.5

Nose - Fruity peat smoke is dominant, with toasted brioche in the background and a very clean, simple corn syrup sweetness. Taste - Very clean at first, then a medicinal, iodine-like smoke appears, similar to apple juice mixed with campfire ash. Finish - Lingering smoke, fruity ash, corn syrup/Splenda sweetness. Score - 50/100 Final Thoughts - I'm not a big fan of peated whiskies, and this is no exception. It's not quite as intensely medicinal peat as Laphroaig, but it's close. The smoke overshadows everything, and any green apple notes from their unpeated versions are gone, replaced by this Splenda-like sweetness. Would I drink it if offered? - No Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Nose: Peaty funk, sea air aroma, oily. Faint citrus hints, definitely a marmalade character. Vanilla. Palate: Light and smooth. Salt. Vanilla, gentle smoke and very mild peat. Ginger butter and malt chewiness. Touches of citrus and smooth, mild woodiness (like fresh sweet wood with very light tannins, not burnt). Finish: Thin. Not very long, mild sea salt. Gentle oak. The nose is significantly more prominent, and the palate doesn't quite meet the nose's promise. It's not bad at all, though. A very light, smooth malt with a hint of Laphroaig on the nose and less so on the palate.

Intriguing and difficult to define. The aromas are faint but you catch little wisps of peat, smoke. The first taste is a rich mouthful of butter, salty sea, charcoal, peppercorn. The finish is long but the flavors evolve in your mouth. The taste shifts from medicinal with menthol sensations, then the sweetness appears with subtle ripe orange, raisins and tartness. I appreciate the length but the bitterness can be too much. Perhaps the aged bottles are the best fit.

Appearance- lightly colored and thin. Nose of pear, lavender and acetone. Sweet and herbal. The taste is of apple pie; baking spices and fruits are noticeable. There is not much wood from the barrel except for a slight complexity with a hint of leather and tobacco on the finish. It’s not an exceptionally complex spirit but it is smooth and well-balanced. Honestly, I believe its rating here is much harsher than its impact.

My prior experience with Penderyn, trying a triple pack years ago, was unimpressive as I was randomly sampling spirits and liqueurs then. My interest shifted to rum, then whisky. Penderyn impressed me again at Dramfest with Rich Oak, so I decided to revisit. My initial impression was correct. It's akin to a sweet spirit with a touch of bitterness. Not much complexity, rated 2.5.