Hensol Castle Distillery Forges New Whisky Partnership
The Newport-based brewery Tiny Rebel has announced a collaboration with Hensol Castle Distillery. The partnership will create a Welsh whisky using a malted barley beer wash. Hensol Castle Distillery and Tiny Rebel have been working together for 18 months.
During that time, Hensol Castle’s Dai Wakely and Tiny Rebel head brewer Mark Gammons developed a beer wash recipe. The wash is essential to the distilling process used to create the single malt Welsh whiskey.
Hensol Castle Distillery Forges New Whisky Partnership
In January this year, the distillers laid down a 200L ex-Jack Daniels barrel of Welsh single malt whisky. This marks the distillery’s first foray into the whisky category. The distillery’s current portfolio includes:
- Two ranges of gin (Hensol Castle and Benjamin Hall),
- Judge Jenkins, a Spiced Rum
- Maraschino Cherry Spiced Rum,
- A range of liqueurs named Trulo.
Master distiller Dai Wakely said of the whisky: “We’re hoping to carve ourselves a place alongside other esteemed Welsh distilleries, such as Penderyn and Aberfalls.”
Hensol Castle Distillery, founded in 2021, has the capacity to bottle six million bottles of spirits per year. It currently serving 80 worldwide brands. Back in 2019, Bottlers and Distillers Wales announced it would create a distillery and visitor experience at Hensol Castle as part of a £7m investment in the 17th-century castle.
Interestingly, the distillery seems to focus on collaboration as a major part of its business. Last year, a new gin was released as part of another partnership. The collaboration involved Hensol Castle Distillery and Welsh Rugby Union player Sam Davies’ and his fiancé Elianna Chavez. Read more on the Drinks Business.
A statement from Davies and Chavez explained their side of the partnership: “When searching for a distillery to bring our vision to life, we were drawn to Hensol Castle Distillery for its exceptional reputation and expertise in producing high-quality spirits. We were impressed by the distillery’s commitment to craftsmanship and attention to detail, which aligned perfectly with our own values for Toca Vida Gin.”
Since the liquid is still one year into its three-year resting period, it won’t be available for sale until March 2026.