A NORTH Wales distillery has launched a 100% Welsh, single malt whisky, the first whisky to be distilled in the region for more than 100 years.
To mark the launch of the unique single malt, Aber Falls Whisky Distillery, in Abergwyngregyn, has partnered with Great British Menu finalist and Ready Steady Cook chef, Ellis Barrie, to create two delectable dishes, one savoury and one sweet, to pair with the distillery’s first ever whisky, and the recipes are now available for whisky lovers to try at home.
The Inaugural Release of the whisky, 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.
Distilled in a copper pot still and matured along the coastline of North Wales in a mix of wooden barrels selected to enhance the flavour profile during maturation, the whisky 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.
Aber Falls Inaugural Release.
Chef Ellis is using his world-renowned knowledge of food to create two recipes to complement the taste of the exquisite one-of-a-kind whisky, for a real taste of North Wales - a lamb main and dessert, Welsh daiquiri style barley clotted cream mess.
He said: “Pulling this pairing menu together for the launch of Aber Falls first Welsh whisky was an absolute joy and a pleasure.
“It allowed me to do what I excel at and marry up the best local ingredients to truly accentuate other flavours and, in this case, the finest whisky.
“I didn’t use the whisky itself in the food as it needed to be experienced by the glass on its own but instead, I used the perfect food combination to complement the flavours and notes from the whisky, to create a palate of undeniable pleasure for the tastebuds to relish.”
To complement the unique characteristics of the whisky, 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.
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, managing director at Aber Falls Whisky Distillery said: “We are really proud and excited to offer this whisky to our customers.
"We believe it brings together the very best Welsh ingredients. These credentials truly demonstrate how we’ve captured the ‘Spirit of North Wales’ within the Inaugural Release and create the whisky’s distinctive character, laying the foundation for future releases, with our non-aged, declared bottling due in September.”
• 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.
The Inaugural Release is available through www.aberfallsdistillery.com where details of future releases will also be posted.
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