Penderyn Serpents Tears First Release Single Malt Welsh Whisky 46%

The Vikings called it exactly that — a giant serpent lurking off the coast at Llandudno. Now that same coastline has its own distillery, and its first bottle carries the name of the beast sailors once feared.

Expert description

Penderyn Serpents Tears First Release is a Single Malt Welsh Whisky made with peated malt and bottled at 46%, distilled at Penderyn's new site in Llandudno, North Wales — the first place in around 125 years where peated whisky has been distilled in Wales. The name comes from the Great Orme, a limestone headland at Llandudno whose name derives from the Old Norse word for 'great serpent,' a nod to the Viking sailors who once feared its steep cliffs.

The first release is limited to around 6,000 bottles, some of which sold directly online at launch in 2025. Where Penderyn's Gold range draws its smoke entirely from the casks, Serpents Tears is different: here the smoke comes from the peated malt itself, making it something new within Penderyn's otherwise light, cask-driven range.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers dried leaves, ripe orchard fruit and a note of smoke, backed by toasted bread.

Palate

The palate combines sweet peat with creamy vanilla and baked apple, spiced with pepper and a touch of clove.

Finish

The finish is warm and softly smoky, with a barley sweetness that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Penderyn Serpents Tears First Release Single Malt Welsh Whisky 46%
Distillery: Penderyn
Region/Country: Llandudno, North Wales
Type: Single Malt Welsh Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: Approximately 6,000
Edition: First Release
EAN no.: 5011594003693

Flavour profile

Peated · Smoky · Spiced

Did you know?

Serpents Tears is the first whisky distilled from peated malt in Wales in more than 125 years — Penderyn's Gold range, including the Peated bottling, draws its smoke from the casks instead, not from the malt itself.

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Frequently asked questions about Penderyn Serpents Tears First Release Single Malt Welsh Whisky 46%

Why is the whisky called Serpents Tears?

The name comes from the Great Orme, a headland at Llandudno in North Wales, whose name derives from the Old Norse for 'great serpent' — an echo of the Viking sailors who feared its cliffs.

What makes Serpents Tears different from the rest of Penderyn's range?

It's the first whisky from Penderyn's new Llandudno distillery, and the first in around 125 years distilled from peated malt in Wales — unlike the Gold range's Peated, where the smoke comes from the casks.

How many bottles of Serpents Tears First Release are there?

The first release is limited to around 6,000 bottles.

What does Penderyn Serpents Tears taste like?

Sweet peat meets vanilla and baked apple, spiced with pepper and clove, finishing warm and softly smoky.

Is Serpents Tears smokier than an Islay whisky?

No, the smoke is sweeter and gentler than in many classic Islay whiskies, but it's clearly present, since it comes directly from the peated malt itself here.

Where is Penderyn's new Llandudno distillery located?

It sits on the coast in North Wales, close to the Great Orme headland that gave this release its name.

Is Serpents Tears First Release worth it?

As the first peated whisky from a brand-new distillery, with a limited run of around 6,000 bottles, it carries a rarity and historical significance that reach beyond the tasting experience alone.