A major push to develop more distilleries can stop Wales being the ‘secret nation’ in the global whisky world.
That’s the message from existing distillers and politicians.
Manufacturing of whisky in Wales declined during the nineteenth century, with the commercial development of liquor discouraged by the rise of the temperance movement.
But the Welsh Whisky Company opened the Penderyn Distillery – nestled in the Cynon Valley – in 2000, with its whisky now sold around the world.
Aber Falls Distillery in Gwynedd will unveil its first whisky next year while Dà Mhìle Distillery, which is in Ceredigion, launched its first single malt this year and In The Welsh Wind Distillery, also in Ceredigion, is developing a new whisky.
The leader of the Welsh National Party, Neil McEvoy, now believes Wales needs to seize this opportunity to rapidly increase the Welsh whisky market – and thinks the country could host 20 distilleries.
Penderyn and Aber both said they were in support of growing the Welsh whisky sector, saying everyone will benefit.
Scotland has always been a giant in the sector but Ireland could be the inspiration after going from four distilleries to 31 in less than a decade.
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MS Mr McEvoy said: “The Covid crisis has seen the economy fall off a cliff. We need to find new ways of earning a living. Wales has iconic Celtic heritage and we should use this to create a high value, sustainable whisky industry in Wales.
“The Welsh Government should take the lead and seed fund the industry. There is no reason why Wales could not have 20 new distilleries over a five-year period.
“These would directly create 900 jobs, but would provide a huge economic boost, leading to a positive knock on effect of thousands of jobs overall. Over a 15-year period, we would be looking at a £200m boost in GVA from jobs alone.”
Aber Falls managing director James Wright said it was the time for “more doing, and less talking”.
He said: “Penderyn has given Welsh whisky the platform to grow and now we can all drive the Welsh whisky category. We can all enhance each other. Wales has the right environment to produce whisky, and for farmers malt barley is a sustainable crop.
"We should be helping develop more distilleries and attracting investment in. It really is a case of ‘the more the merrier’. With Penderyn in Llandudno and Aber we are already creating a whisky tour in North Wales and this can grow further.”
He said there was interest in countries such as Japan and Australia for Welsh whisky.
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A Penderyn spokesman said: “Penderyn are totally in favour of an increase in Welsh distilleries.
“As pioneers in the field, and the first distillery in Wales for nearly 100 years, it’s important that Wales has a distilling tradition of its own.
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“Penderyn is now available in over 40 countries, and whilst it goes from strength to strength, a very important element is that we’re Welsh, as this is a point of difference.
“Wales, compared to the awareness of Irish and Scottish whisky and people, are ‘the secret nation’ and the more distilleries that help introduce Wales to the world can only help in promoting Wales and Welsh whisky.
“We are passionate about our country and it would be a great pleasure to us if Welsh whisky became as well known as Scottish and Irish whisky.”