In The Welsh Wind distillery given go-ahead for major expansion

In the Welsh Wind now has the go-ahead to extend and develop the existing building and construct a cask and grain store ‘fundamental’ to the production of a ‘grain-to-glass’ Welsh whisky.

“We are delighted that our planning application has been granted,” said Business Manager Joe Lewis. “The potential for a high-class business on this prime site has never been fully reached.

“This planning permission paves the way for us to build a world- class distillery business here in west Wales with the addition of quality buildings designed to allow for growth and to showcase our gins and our grain-to-glass Welsh malt whisky.”

The distillery moved from its original premises in a renovated cowshed into the former Gogerddan Arms pub, on the A487 trunk road, in March 2019.

The business exercised its option to purchase the premises in early 2020, taking ownership days before the first lockdown and releasing its first own brand gin, In the Welsh Wind Signature Style.

The distillery also produced over 30,000 litres of hand sanitiser in the first months of lockdown, while pioneering its ‘grain-to-glass’ Welsh single malt whisky project.

Working with local farmers to grow barley in south Ceredigion and north Pembrokeshire, In the Welsh Wind has created what it believes to be the first malting floor of any significance in Wales in over a century.

With new stills installed, and a bore hole due to be sunk on distillery property, production of a fully grain-to-glass Welsh whisky is underway.

“By malting on site, we remove the need for kilning the malted grain,” said co-founder and owner Alex Jungmayr.

“One of the only reasons malted grain needs to be kilned is for it to be transported and stored ready for use.

“By carrying out all processes on site, in small batches, the need for kilning, a hugely energy-heavy part of the process, is removed.”

Source: Tivy-Side Advertiser & In The Welsh Win