Penderyn has finished its third distillery build, with the new site in Swansea set to produce around one million bottles of Welsh single malt whisky each year, doubling its total output.

The site, at the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks near the Swansea stadium, joins two other distilleries in Penderyn’s portfolio: its flagship Penderyn Distillery in the Brecon Beacons, and its Llandudno location, which opened in 2021.

The new Swansea distillery includes a visitor centre, shop, tasting bar, exhibition space, offices and VIP area, along with a barrel maturation store.

Chief Executive Stephen Davies expects the new site, a Grade II listed building, to attract over 80,000 visitors a year.

Penderyn is available in more than 50 markets, including France, Germany, the US, China and travel retail.

City centre regeneration

The Hafod Morfa Copperworks site has been under redevelopment for the last three years, as part of a wider project to regenerate the Swansea Valley area.

Financial backing has come from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Swansea Council and Swansea University, with grants totalling £4 million/US$4.99m. An additional £500,000/US$624,000 has come from the West Government Economy and Transport funding.

The council will continue to regenerate the former copperworks and surrounding area with £20m/US$24.9m in government funding. 

Local firm John Weaver Contractors has overseen the build.

“There’s so much history to the Hafod Morfa Copperworks site, so we’re delighted to be part of that piece of history moving forward and as each week passes, it’s exciting to see the site coming back to life once again,” said Penderyn Distillery Chief Operating Officer, Neil Quigley 

“We’re proud to be opening our third distillery in Wales, on one of Swansea’s greatest heritage sites, and we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors, once our doors are open.”

Welsh Economy Minister Vaughan Gething added: “I’m delighted the Welsh Government has been able to support this development. 

“It’s another exciting regeneration project which further develops Swansea as a vibrant city destination. It complements other regeneration projects in the area as well as supporting economic growth and all year-round jobs, which is enabling broader private sector development and investment. 

“We look forward to working with Penderyn, a leading Welsh company which exports globally, on this new distillery and visitor experience.”

Last year, Simon Roffe, Business Development Director at Penderyn Distillery, spoke to TRBusiness about the whisky-maker’s growing GTR network.