Ex Libris: The White Book of Rhydderch (2009)

EX LIBRIS - THE WHITE BOOK OF RHYDDERCH (2009)

PENDERYN - AGED 13 YEARS (2009)

With its emblematic labels inspired by book covers, Ex Libris is La Maison du Whisky’s first range dedicated to world whiskies. It scours the world’s distilleries year after year, offering exceptional single casks bottled at cask strength. The collection draws its inspiration from novels and poetry, naming its bottlings after the work of a leading author from the region it explores. This edition is devoted to Welsh whisky, with four versions from Penderyn Distillery. These single malts are named after the titles of some of the most famous and ancient medieval manuscripts of Welsh poetry. The White Book of Rhydderch is a manuscript that contains an earlier, incomplete copy of the tales now known as the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh tales written in the 14th century.

PRODUCTION:

• Bottling: 2023

• Cask Number: Single Cask n°89/2009

• Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon

• Age: 13 Years

• ABV: 58.8%

• Number of Bottles: 134

Opened in 2000, Penderyn, of the town of the same name, is the first Welsh distillery to produce whisky in over a century. The last Welsh manufacturer of this spirit closed its doors in 1903. The distillery is equipped with two Faraday stills and two more traditional 2,500-liter pot stills and work with the Laureate variety of barley which is grown and malted on England’s east coast. This version distilled in 2009, was aged in ex-Bourbon casks and reveals very fruity and floral notes, along with a beautiful herbaceous freshness. The White Book script takes its name from Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd, who was part of a dynasty with a lengthy tradition of literary patronage, and is believed to have been an authority on Welsh law.

TASTING NOTES:

Nose: Spicy and powdery. Behind lovely notes of pollen and tropical fruits, the nose reveals elegant white pear scents, along with cinnamon and white chocolate flavours.

Palate: Heady and fruity. The bright attack stages lilies, cocoa powder, and dried apricots. Like the nose, the end of the palate evolves into spicy notes (cayenne pepper), with a gooseberry touch.

Finish: Herbaceous and fulfilling. At the start of the finish, papaya, white grapefruit and grey pepper highlight the freshness. The after-taste goes towards lemon notes.