Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Hensol Castle Distillery
About the distillery
Hensol Castle Distillery is located in the 17th-century Hensol Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan – a place where castle history and modern spirits-making meet. The distillery works primarily with gin, rum and vodka, which are made on-site and can be purchased online and through retail partners, while the castle setting also provides a backdrop for tours and tastings. This makes visiting especially interesting right now, because the distillery is simultaneously preparing its first single malt Welsh whisky from the historic cellars beneath the castle.
History
The whisky story begins in the historic cellars beneath Hensol Castle. On 27 February 2023 they filled Barrel No.1 – without fanfare, with a small team and a focus on making whisky from scratch. After a three-year maturation the first official bottling approaches: in November 2026 Hensol Castle Single Malt Whisky will be launched as an inaugural release, and the bottles are strictly limited. This marks a new milestone for a distillery that has so far been known especially for characterful gin, rum and vodka – and which is now expanding its story into single malt.
Raw materials and production
The gin process begins with carefully selected botanicals: juniper, herbs, spices and citrus – each element chosen to contribute to aroma and flavor. The botanicals meet spirit in a copper still, where heating causes the vapour to pass through the material and draw out oils, aromas and flavour compounds. During distillation the process is controlled and the fractions are separated: heads and tails are discarded, while the heart is retained as the smooth, balanced middle of the run. Finally the spirit is blended and balanced so each botanical has its place, before the finished gin is bottled and quality-controlled.
Maturation and cask types
The first single malt was matured in traditional premium American Bourbon barrels. It is a maturation style that imparts a pronounced influence from the wood, and which suits the distillery’s aim for a modern, accessible style. The specific release is described as the result of three years’ patient maturation before the bottles enter the market as a first edition.
Whiskies
Hensol Castle has a clear range of own-produced spirits. You can choose between a Welsh Dry Gin and several flavoured gins as well as rums and a Welsh Vodka. When you are on-site at the castle, the visit is about getting close to the craft – and it is also here that the forthcoming whisky story begins to take shape. The first single malt will be a limited inaugural release, tied to maturation in bourbon casks and a distinct “first-edition” house style.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hensol Castle First Release Single Malt Whisky | Single Malt Whisky; First Release / Inaugural | 46 % | Three Years Old | American Bourbon barrels (traditional premium bourbon barrels) | First release is the historic beginning of Hensol Castle’s single malt universe, with pre-order and a strictly limited first edition.; Nose: Rich oak, sweet malt, vanilla, and bright orchard fruits.; Palate: Creamy caramel, butterscotch, and honeyed oak.; Finish: Gentle, warming spice. | Limited; Pre-order (strictly limited to 1,150 bottles).; 1150 bottles |
General tasting profile
The whisky's profile is described with a focus on oak, sweet malt/vanilla and fruit, together with a balanced, creamy caramel note and a finishing, gentle warming spice.
fruitiness is described as Bright orchard fruits. malt/sweetness is described as Sweet malt; creamy caramel; honeyed oak. spices are described as Gentle, warming spice. vanilla is described as Vanilla. caramel is described as Creamy caramel; butterscotch. oak is described as Rich oak; honeyed oak.
Visit the distillery
You can visit Hensol Castle Distillery and experience a combination of tasting and learning within the castle setting itself. The distillery offers, among other things, Gin Tour & Tasting as well as gin- and rum-making experiences where you can get hands-on in the process. There is also a shop where you can browse the company's range of spirits, and the experiences are presented as part of a broader setup with castle history and the team behind production.
Philosophy and craft
Hensol Castle describes their work as a discipline where every step matters – from botanicals to the finished bottle. In gin production they emphasize the balance between controlled process and selected raw materials: fractions are cut, the heart is chosen, and the blend is fine-tuned so no botanical steals too much attention. The whisky project is likewise framed as a “from scratch” endeavour with in-house development, precise distillation and maturation in appropriate bourbon barrels.
Latest news
Sustainability at Hensol Castle Distillery: Distilling with the Future in Mind – 28 Aug '26
Latest blog updates about sustainability and distilling with the future in mind are available on Hensol Castle Distillery's blog.