Bursting with Welsh spirit Two years ago there was no such thing as Aber Falls gin and whisky distillery. But since transforming a derelict old butter factory into North Wales’s first whisky producer in 100 years, managing director James Wright has turned the enterprise into an award-winning market leader for Wales on the world stage. Steve Stratford took a tour to find out more. Nestled between Snowdonia and the Irish Sea, just off the A55 along the North Wales coast, Gwynedd’s Aber Falls Distillery – named after the 120ft Rhaeadr Fawr waterfall – sits at the heart of the community of Abergwyngregyn. It may be a small village, with a population of just 240, but its roots stretch deep. Aber boasts the longest unbroken dwelling place in Wales, dating back to the Iron Age, and, under its historic name of Aber Garth Celyn, was the seat of Llewelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales. This connection with the history and culture of Wales is as important to James as it was winning at last year’s prestigious World Spirits Competition in San Francisco, where Aber Falls Orange Marmalade Gin won silver, and the Welsh Dry an unbeatable gold. James’s passion and enthusiasm go a long way to explaining why Aber Falls has been such a success. He dreamt of establishing his own whisky distillery – the first in North Wales in over a century – and built around him a team of people perfectly suited to the business. ‘Every member of staff is from the local area, and they are trained from scratch so their skills are specifically designed for Aber Falls,’ explained James as he took me on a tour of the distillery.
18
www.taste-blas.co.uk
