Penderyn plans third distillery in Swansea

Welsh whisky producer Penderyn will open a third distillery in Swansea as part of a £1 billion (US$1.2bn) transformation programme by the local council.

The Shaping Swansea scheme will revamp up to seven areas across the Welsh city – including the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, which will become Penderyn’s third production site. It is expected to be completed in 2023.

It will follow Penderyn’s expansion into Llandudno in north Wales last year, and the original distillery and headquarters in the Brecon Beacons.

Stephen Davies, chief executive of Penderyn, said: “We launched our Llandudno site to a roaring success despite doing so during the pandemic. That success speaks volumes about our team’s incredible dedication to our whisky lines – and we’re also immensely grateful to those who continue to invest in and enjoy Penderyn from home and in bars.

“We’re confident our Swansea site will help us to upscale our production of old favourites – while we enabling our creative distillers to really get their teeth into some new ideas and projects. 2023 is going to be an immensely exciting year for Welsh whisky lovers.”

The £1bn investment comes from the National Lottery Heritage Fund grants. The funding will also be used to develop public attractions and points of interest for both locals and tourists.

Davies added: “As much as this project will be immensely beneficial to Penderym commercially, it’s also fantastic to be part of a wider heritage project to help protect local landmarks.

“I believe the people of Swansea deserve to enjoy these historic buildings for decades to come – and we’re proud to be part of that rejuvenation.”