For most spirit-making brands, the ultimate compliment is being awarded at the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Furthermore, getting even a single gold medal can seal a brand’s success and vault them to the forefront of the liquor industry. So when a brand wins three in a single year, it’s extremely big news — which is exactly what happened with Penderyn at the 2020 awards.
A distillery based in Wales, UK and founded in 2004, there’s a pretty good chance most folks have never heard of Penderyn. But that’s all about to change, as a trio of their whiskies swept the awards. The first — their Peated Single Malt Whisky marked by a smoky flavor with notes of vanilla and citrus — took Double Gold. The second gold-winning spirit, the Portwood, is said to have “hints of berry and dark chocolate […] a distinct flavor of oak and honey on the taste buds [and a] hint of guava and mango to finish.” Last but not least, the gold-winning Rich Oak starts with notes of cinnamon and fudge and, like the Portwood, has a guava and mango finish. Because of their pedigree, it will be hard to find any of these bottles in rotation, but keep an eye out at your favorite liquor store just in case.
