Penderyn Tramroad

Explorer Tom At Penderyn Distillery, Welsh whisky has a proper address in the foothills of Bannau Brycheiniog and a working still with an impressive story to tell. Join a tour to follow the grain through the production rooms. I reckon the barrels hold meetings after dark to decide which one gets to sound most distinguished. The original Penderyn distillery began making whisky in 2000, and its visitor centre opened in 2008. This is the Brecon Beacons site at Pontpren, not the company's later centres in Llandudno or Swansea. A guided visit explains milling, mashing and distilling, including the distinctive Faraday still and newer pot stills. The exhibits give the history and method a place beside the working equipment. The tour may end with a tasting for eligible adults, but the craftsmanship is interesting whether or not a glass is involved. Book through the operator and check its current arrangements before travelling; walk-in places are not guaranteed. The distillery sets age and footwear rules for the production area, and its working equipment may not be running at the time of every tour. Parts of that area are not wheelchair accessible, for which the operator offers an alternative experience. Follow the guide, keep cameras and phones out where instructed, and enjoy the unusual chance to see how a familiar drink is actually made. Leave with the sound of machinery and the patience of maturation in your head, rather than merely a label on a bottle. Penderyn makes its craft easy to follow from the place where it began. If a barrel says it has waited longer than I have, it is probably right.