Published on August 28, 2023.
Abergwyngregyn – try saying that.
Translated from Welsh, Abergwyngregyn literally means Mouth of the river of the white shells. This small village is a key tourist destination, attracting 50-60,000 tourists each year, with its proximity to Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls) it’s the perfect starting point for a gentle trek up the mountain.
The water from the Falls plunges 120ft before forming Afon Rhaeadr Fawr (Aber Falls River), which runs right alongside the distillery. Witness the majesty of this stunning waterfall for yourself, you can walk up to the falls in less than an hour from one of the car parks in Abergwyngregyn
Previously a slate works in the 19th century, a margarine factory during the world wars, and more recently a drinks wholesaler depot, the building has been lovingly restored and refurbished, proving the ideal place to create spirits and demonstrate the passion and skill in their craftsmanship.
Aber Falls whisky is unique in both its production and its taste. Working with local farmers, they use only authentic Welsh malted barley and fresh Welsh water, and their recipes have been meticulously built to highlight the quality of these spectacular ingredients.
The spirit must be aged for a minimum of three years and one day before it is legally whisky. After fermentation, the whisky is distilled in large copper stills, which remove the sulphur from the liquid and help in the formation of esters, giving the spirit a refined, fruity character. Once distilled, a range of specially selected wood barrels, including American Oak Bourbon, Virgin Oak and Spanish Sherry, enhance the flavour profile of the whisky during the maturation process. These casks are stored at the distillery in Abergwyngregyn to take on the characteristics of the Menai Straits air, and retain the authentic profile of Aber Falls. The magic happens during the aging process, when the skilled distillers use a variety of methods to blend and create the finest whiskies, including dividing barrels, marrying the liquids, or simply full-term maturation in one cask. This gives a diverse portfolio, ranging from 3 year old expressions to achieve maximum quality and taste
The Aber aim is to ensure that their whisky is 100% Welsh and sustainable as they believe that their whisky should put in as much as it takes out. Their work with Welsh farmers on growing the finest Welsh barley strives to not only ensure the ingredients are authentic and of the highest quality, but also improve the economy of Wales. Aside from growing their ingredients, they also don’t let anything go to waste, waste pot ale is given to local farms for use as fertiliser, while spent grain can be recycled as cattle feed. Aber Falls Distillery developed and grew premium malted barley for use in their single malt whisky with Bangor University’s grain research centre, and other local businesses. Water is drawn from the distillery’s own borehole which runs down from Aber Falls and the Snowdonia mountains.
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About the author
Chloe Lewis
Chloe looks after all copywriting and proof-reading for Drink Warehouse UK, working with the Marketing team to deliver educational content to all our customers. She has spent many years in the hospitality sector, moving from behind the bar to now helping venues to stock their own. You can find more from Chloe about beer, cider, spirits, wine, non-alcoholic, soft drinks and RTDs all over our blogs, website, social media and Set The Bar magazine.
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