Penderyn Distillery Cask – Carcavelos Review: 'A Candy Shop in a Glass'

Welcome to the Penderyn distillery cask – Carcavelos Review. Are you curious about what a Carcavelos wine cask does with a whisky from Wales? You'll find out in this review.

FAQ

Before we move on to tasting this 'aur Cymru' or Welsh gold, let's start with some information about Carcavelos. We are familiar with Port and Madeira wines from Portugal and certainly with the results some distilleries have had maturing in these casks.

By the way, Penderyn is known for its excellent whiskies that have matured in Madeira casks. Carcavelos is a Portuguese wine region in the municipality of the same name, in the Estremadura region. Most vineyards are located near the towns of Cascais and Oeiras'. The region has the highest wine classification in Portugal, the Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC).

Carcavelos wines are matured in oak barrels for three to five years, giving them a yellow-brown colour and a nutty taste.

Anyone who has ever visited a distillery in Scotland or Wales knows that there are casks in the visitor centre where you can fill your own bottle for a fee.

These distillery casks can consist of various varieties and often have an experimental character. During our visit to Penderyn in June 2023, we noticed the Carcavelos cask and decided to purchase a bottle for a later tasting, which we’re sharing via this review. Please note: if we now tease you with this whisky, know that you can only buy a bottle at the distillery itself, which is not exactly a punishment.

The whisky has a natural colour and is non-chill filtered. We pour a glass and immediately add a few drops of water due to the high alcohol content of 61.9 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). The aroma is very soft, sweet and pleasant.

We smell wine gums, pears, and apricot followed by notes of toffee. The sweet aroma is clearly present and it feels like stepping into a candy shop. We take a sip and the candy shop experience continues. The flavours of apples, pears, honey and vanilla are well represented. All this is accompanied by a pleasing presence of peppery spices. The finish is long, sweet, warm and very pleasant.

For us, the Carcavelos casks do wonders for the beverage. They give the whisky that extra push in the right direction. So hopefully more whiskies will be matured in these casks in the future. The more, the merrier! The drink is intense, fruity and sweet. Despite the high alcohol content, the whisky is still pleasant to drink, but be sure to add a few drops of water. Penderyn clearly has things figured out when it comes to Portuguese wine casks, and Carcavelos is no exception.

+ Intense and warm

+ Sweet and easy to drink

- Only available for purchase at the Penderyn distillery