NEW WELSH DISTILLERY RELEASES FIRST EDITION SINGLE MALT

 Aber Falls Distillery launches first single malt whisky

ABERFALL DISTYLLFA WHISGI RELEASES 3 YO SINGLE MALT

Aber Falls Distillery in Abergwyngregyn, Wales, launched its first 100% Welsh single malt whisky on 17 May 2021.

The ‘Inaugural Release’, consisting of 2,000 bottles, is quintessentially Welsh; milled and distilled in North Wales using 100% Welsh malted barley and rock-filtered water from the Aber Falls waterfall. It’s also aged in the Distillery’s local Welsh warehouses, before being bottled on site at the Distillery.

The single malt was distilled in a copper pot stills and matured along the coastline of North Wales in a mix of wooden barrels, including American and European oak, Spanish sherry, Virgin oak and Orange Wine casks selected to enhance the flavour profile during maturation.

The glowing amber expression, produced and bottled on-site, is alive with tropical fruit flavours at first, followed by scents of sweet hay and cut grass. The palate delivers warmth with dark chocolate and golden syrup before rounding off with a touch of cream and vanilla to finish.

Dr Kirsty McCallum, master blender at Aber Falls, said: “The setting of Aber Falls is so unique, nestled between the Menai Straits and the Carneddau mountain range, offering a remote microclimate, creating the ideal conditions to influence the character of the whisky. One of the big advantages of producing whisky in Wales is having more scope to experiment with a variety of casks, and our wood strategy has also been a key contributor to the finished liquid, which we’re extremely pleased with for a three-year-old bottling.”

The Inaugural Release, which is the first of many age-declared whiskies and special editions planned for the future, is bottled at 46% ABV, and the 70cl expression has an RRP of £45.

To complement the unique characteristics of the whisky from the first Distillery in North Wales for more than 100 years, the ‘Inaugural Release’ has a bespoke bottle, boldly embossed with the brand’s unique Triquetra and topped off with a wooden cap, reinforcing the Distillery’s heritage and the brand story. The bottle is presented in a gift box made from fully sustainable materials, supporting Aber Falls’ pledge to be 100% sustainable in the future.

James Wright, MD of the Distillery and a member of the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board, said that this whisky was the first to be distilled in North Wales for 100 years, bringing together the very best Welsh ingredients. These credentials truly encapsulate the ‘Spirit of North Wales’ within the Inaugural Release and demonstrate the distillery’s distinctive character, laying the foundation for future releases, with a non-aged declared bottling due in September. The team consists of local people producing a local product using local materials and proud to do so.

Previously a slate works in the 19th century and a margarine factory during the world wars, Aber Falls Distillery opened in 2017 initially releasing gins and liqueurs.

Aber Falls Distillery, in collaboration with other Welsh distilleries, is working towards protecting Welsh whisky with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). As well as protecting the status of Welsh whisky, Aber Falls Distillery is working hard to protect the local environment by adopting an ethos of field-to-field, maximising local resources by returning any waste ingredients back to local farms for use as fertiliser or cattle feed.

The production of Aber Falls Whisky benefits Wales at every stage; it utilises Welsh skilled workers and Welsh ingredients, and contributes to a more sustainable production system in that waste products go on to be used in other Welsh industries. Aber Falls will achieve its ambition of putting Wales on the world map as a producer of excellent food and drink.

THE DISTILLERY

Aber Falls professes it is committed to quality and a premium taste, and wants to be recognised and respected for the calibre of their product and what it stands for.

Their team is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about whisky, and all work with the same goal in mind – to create the best whiskies and spirits using the finest ingredients sourced from Wales.

LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

Aber Falls believes that working closely with local businesses and partners is imperative in creating a great experience for visitors to North Wales. Teaming up with other attractions in the surrounding area, puts into place a range of offers so visitors can enjoy a day out riding the waves or flying the skies, followed by a fun and fascinating Aber Falls distillery tour and tasting experience. The perfect way to spend time exploring the vivid beauty and variety of activities on offer in North Wales.

Aber Falls also has arrangements with Adventure Parc Snowdonia, set in the Conwy Valley of the Snowdonia mountains, a revolutionary world-first inland surf lagoon; Dylan’s Restaurant, which has a great mission statement:Celebrating the local produce, character and natural beauty of North Wales; Go North Wales, a great place to stay and plan adventures in North Wales; Blas Cymru / Taste Wales that brings together producers, buyers and food industry professionals for their signature international food and drink trade event and conference and Customised Private Tours in Wales with Celticos.

THEIR ROOTS

The village of Abergwyngregyn is home to their distillery, and sits at the foot of the famous Aber Falls waterfall and the water is filtered down from the Snowdon mountain range to become a key ingredient in all their spirits. Attracting over 50,000 visitors a year, this picturesque spot is easily accessible, just off the A55 and a stone’s throw from the coast.

Previously a slate works in the 19th century, a margarine factory during the world wars, and more recently a drinks wholesaler depot, the building has been lovingly restored and refurbished, proving the ideal place to create their spirits and demonstrate their passion and skill.

THE PROCESS

Their copper stills, appropriately named Golchi, meaning wash in English and Gwirod, meaning spirit, are specially designed to produce refined, premium quality whisky. The copper removes any sulphur, with the large surface area of the tall still ensuring maximum contact with the liquid.

Aber Falls whisky is unique in both its production and its taste. Working with local farmers, they use only authentic Welsh malted barley and fresh Welsh water, and recipes have been meticulously built to highlight the quality of these spectacular ingredients. The spirit must be aged for a minimum of three years and one day before it is legally whisky, so the single malts can be released in 2021, as just proved.

After fermentation, the wort and low wines are distilled in large copper stills, which remove the sulphur from the liquid and help in the formation of esters, giving the spirit a refined, fruity character.

Once distilled, a range of specially selected wood barrels, including American Oak Bourbon, Virgin Oak and Spanish Sherry, enhance the flavour profile of the whisky during the maturation process. These casks are stored at the distillery in Abergwyngregyn to take on the characteristics of the Menai Straits air, and retain the authentic profile of Aber Falls.

The magic happens during the aging process, when skilled distillers use a variety of methods to blend and create the finest whiskies, including dividing barrels, marrying the liquids, or simply full-term maturation in one cask. This gives a diverse portfolio, ranging from 3 year old expressions to as old as felt necessary to achieve maximum quality and taste.

The new visitor centre here at Aber Falls Distillery has opened, as will the bistro and a brand new whisky tour from 17th May. The gift shop is open 7 days a week where you can buy Aber Falls’ award-winning spirits and official merchandise.

The inaugural release of 2000 bottles made from their first mature casks has been sold out. A mix of American Virgin Oak, Sherry and Orange wine casks has made a unique release setting the course for the distillery’s future.

TASTING NOTES Vol. 70cl / ABV 46% @ £45.00

Colour: Glowing amber.

Nose: Initial notes of tropical fruits, coconut, mango and banana, alongside scents of sweet hay and cut grass.

Palate: This exceptional single malt whisky has flavours of dark chocolate and golden syrup, influences of cream and vanilla with hints of pine.

Finish: A touch of cream and vanilla carried forward.

ABER FALLS INAUGURAL WHISKY RELEASE

Marking a significant milestone in their whisky journey, Aber Falls Distillery launched their first 100% Welsh single malt whisky.

The ‘Inaugural Release’ consisted of 2,000 bottles, and is quintessentially Welsh; milled and distilled in North Wales using 100% Welsh malted barley and rock-filtered water from the Aber Falls waterfall. It’s also aged in the Distillery’s local Welsh warehouses, before being bottled on site at the Distillery. This exceptional single malt was distilled in a copper pot still and matured along the coastline of North Wales in a mix of wooden barrels, including American and European oak, Spanish sherry, Virgin oak and Orange Wine casks selected to enhance the flavour profile during maturation. Sadly, it sold out almost immediately, despite being limited to one bottle per customer.

To complement the unique characteristics of the whisky from the first Distillery in North Wales for more than 100 years, the ‘Inaugural Release’ has a bespoke bottle, boldly embossed with the brand’s unique Triquetra and topped off with a wooden cap, reinforcing the Distillery’s heritage and the brand story. The bottle is presented in a simple yet striking gift box made from fully sustainable materials, supporting Aber Falls’ pledge to be 100% sustainable in the future.