A South Wales-based gin distillery, located in the cellars of a 400-year-oldcastle, celebrates its first birthday this month [September] by being listed in the top 10% of tourist attractions worldwide, after having been awarded a 2022 Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Award.
Hensol Castle Distillery, situated on the estate of the four-star Vale Resort, scooped the honour after receiving over 100 5* reviews from visitors, which were shared on TripAdvisor over the last 12 months. It is the highest honour that the world's largest travel guidance platform can bestow.
Hensol Castle Distillery opened its visitor experience in September 2021, following a multi-million pound investment. As part of the tour, visitors can see the distillery in operation, learn about the history of gin and Hensol Castle, enjoy a gin tasting and a gin and tonic at the end of the tour. In the Gin School, visitors can distil and label their very own 70cl bottle of gin using ingredients of their choice.
Since it launched, Hensol Castle Distillery’s visitor experience has welcomed just under 10k visitors through the door from as far afield as Canada, USA and Germany, who have tasted more than 25k glasses of gin and distilled more than 2.5 million bottles.
Stephanie Metson, marketing manager at Hensol Castle Distillery, said: “We’ve only been open for a year so to be awarded this top honour by TripAdvisor is extremely rewarding.
“Our talented team work tirelessly to offer a great experience to visitors and this recognition is a real testament to their dedication, passion and enthusiasm.
“We’re always working hard to make the experience for guests the very best it can be, and we look forward to seeing what the next 12 months hold.”
The TripAdvisor award comes hot on the heels of a clutch of other industry awards that Hensol Castle Distillery has secured over the past 12 months. It scooped Silver Medals at the London Spirits Competition in March [2022] for its two flavoured gins - The Wild Strawberry and Hibiscus Gin and the Blood Orange Zest Gin, while the Hensol Castle Welsh Dry Gin also won a gold medal at the Spirits Business Awards in December [2021].
Hensol Castle Distillery is South Wales’s first full-scale gin and spirits distilleryand contract bottling plant and is the only distillery in a 17centurycastle. Since starting production in spring 2019, it has enjoyed rapid growth, an ever-expanding order book for contract bottling; launching anon-trade collection of gins and vodkas as well as Trulo – its market-definingrange of reduced calorie alcoholic drinks.
Hensol Castle Distillery’s range is now available throughout restaurants, pubs and bars in South Wales, including the Hardwick, Pasture and the Potted Pig restaurants, and it has struck sponsorship deals with Cardiff City Football Club and Glamorgan Cricket to become the official gin supplier of both clubs.
Kanika Soni, chief commercial officer at TripAdvisor, said: “Congratulations to the2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Winners.
“The Travelers’ Choice Awards recognise the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most. Ranking among the Travelers’ Choice winners is always tough — but never more so than this year, as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether it's using new technology, implementing safety measures or hiring outstanding staff, I’m impressed by the steps taken to meet travellers 'new demands.”
To see visitor reviews of Hensol Castle Distillery, visit https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1077133-d20223432-Reviews-Hensol_Castle_Distillery-Hensol_Vale_of_Glamorgan_South_Wales_Wales.html
To book a gin tour or gin-making experience at Hensol Castle Distillery, visit: https://www.hensolcastledistillery.com/gin-experiences/
Hensol Castle Distillery’s Welsh Dry Gin named best in Wales
Hensol Castle Distillery’s Welsh Dry Gin has been crowned best in Wales at the prestigious World Gin Awards 2023.
The ceremony, which showcases the best of the best gins from all over the globe, saw Hensol Castle Distillery’s Welsh Dry Gin win the award for ‘Best in Country’. It will now go on to compete to win the title of ‘World’s Best Classic Gin’ in February 2023.
The Welsh Dry Gin also scooped a gold medal in the classic gin category, while the distillery’s two flavoured gins, which were launched in February 2022, also made the award podium. The Blood Orange Zest Gin won a silver medal and the Wild Strawberry and Hibiscus Gin won a bronze medal in the flavoured gin category.
According to the world’s number one online resource for drinks professionals, TheDrinksReport.com, the World Drinks Awards – which runs the World Gin Awards - select, reward and promote the world’s best drinks to consumers and trade across the globe.
Chris Leeke, Hensol Castle Distillery’s managing director, said: “To be recognised on this prestigious platform, competing against some established names, is a huge success for our relatively new distillery.
“Despite only opening in 2021, we’re already racking up the accolades. Our Hensol Castle Welsh Dry Gin won a gold medal at the Spirits Business Awards last year, and our two flavoured gins both won a silver medal at the London Spirits Competition 2022.
“Our success is a testament to the skills of our master distiller and the hard work of our team, and it puts us in good stead to continue our offering throughout 2023 and beyond.”
Hensol Castle Distillery’s range is available in Asda and Morrisons, throughout restaurants, pubs and bars in South Wales and the hospitality suites and the Principality Stadium for all rugby internationals and music events. It has also secured sponsorship deals with Cardiff City Football Club and Glamorgan Cricket to become the official gin supplier of both clubs.
The World Gin Awards announces its ‘World Best’ winners on 23 February 2023.
