Penderyn Serpents Tears "Smoky Fruit" Single Malt Welsh Whisky

Penderyn Serpent’s Tears “Smoky Fruit” Single Malt Welsh Whisky is a landmark release from Penderyn’s Llandudno Distillery in North Wales, combining the distillery’s characteristic fruit-driven spirit with a delicate layer of genuine peat smoke. Bottled at 46% ABV, Serpent’s Tears represents a significant departure from Penderyn’s traditionally lighter style, with the smoky character derived from peated malt rather than cask influence. The result is an expressive balance of orchard fruits, sweet peat, creamy vanilla and warming spice. Named after the dramatic Great Orme headland overlooking Llandudno, this release connects Penderyn’s modern Welsh whisky production with the landscape and maritime folklore of North Wales, delivering a distinctive smoky-fruit profile unlike anything previously released by the distillery.

Distillery: Penderyn Llandudno Distillery
Producer: The Welsh Whisky Company
Expression: Serpent’s Tears “Smoky Fruit”
Style: Lightly Peated / Smoky Fruit
ABV: 46%
Malt: Peated Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
First Release: 2025
First Release Outturn: 6,000 Bottles Worldwide

Penderyn’s Llandudno Lloyd Street Distillery began operating in 2021 beneath the imposing Great Orme headland on the North Wales coast. Serpent’s Tears became the first single malt whisky released from spirit distilled at the Llandudno site and marked an important milestone for Welsh whisky as a genuinely peated expression produced from peated malt. Its name draws inspiration from the Great Orme, whose name has roots in Old Norse and whose enormous shape was likened to a great sea serpent by early seafarers. Penderyn has translated that darker coastal imagery into the whisky itself, combining its familiar clean and fruity character with sweet, restrained peat smoke. Rather than overwhelming the spirit, the peat adds depth and contrast, creating a distinctive balance between baked orchard fruits, creamy sweetness, spice and gently smouldering smoke.

Tasting Notes:

The aroma carries wonderfully autumnal impressions, with dry leaves and ripe apples meeting dry wood and a subtle layer of smoke that adds depth without dominating the fruit. On the palate, sweet peat smoke combines with creamy sweetness, baked apples and caramelised pancakes, creating a rich yet approachable texture. A lively peppery note emerges through the middle, bringing welcome spice and definition to the sweeter fruit and malt character. The finish is long and warming, with gently lingering peat smoke gradually softening to reveal the natural sweetness of malted barley. A final trace of fruit and delicate smoke remains, creating a beautifully balanced conclusion between Penderyn’s signature fruitiness and the whisky’s distinctive peated character.