In the Welsh Wind celebrates major success at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 with Brychan, its first blended Welsh malt whisky

CARDIGAN distillery In the Welsh Wind is celebrating after its debut blended Welsh malt whisky, Brychan, struck gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2026.

The whisky was also named category and country winner for Best Welsh Blended Malt 2026, marking a major achievement for the west Wales distillery.

The award is significant not only for the company, but also for Welsh whisky more widely, with Brychan described as the first blend of single malt Welsh whiskies to come to market in Wales.

Produced near Cardigan on the Cambrian Coast, Brychan is a small-batch release made from a carefully selected blend of Welsh single malt whiskies aged in bourbon, port and red wine casks. Just 10 casks were chosen for the launch.

Ellen Wakelam, co-founder and director of In the Welsh Wind, said: “We are delighted and immensely proud to have won these awards. For us, Brychan is the culmination of many years of dedication to whisky-making here in west Wales.

“To have our first blended malt recognised at this level and to be judged as gold award-winning standard is incredibly exciting and rewarding for us as a craft distillery and for Welsh whisky as a whole. Brychan, however, is just the beginning.”

She said the aim when creating Brychan was to produce a distinctive blend that would be greater than the sum of its parts.

Made in collaboration with other Welsh distilleries, Brychan is the first in a planned series of blended Welsh malt whiskies from In the Welsh Wind.

Its character comes from a combination of bourbon casks, which add depth and warmth, port casks for richness, and red wine casks to bring a softer red-fruit note.

The distillery said the result is a whisky with complexity, balance and broad appeal, designed to suit both seasoned enthusiasts and those new to Welsh whisky.

In the Welsh Wind is planning to release two more blended Welsh malt whiskies later this year.

Brychan is priced at £45 and is available from the distillery’s online shop and at its distillery shop in Tanygroes.

FRESH concerns have been raised over public safety around the wreck of the Resolute off the Pembrokeshire coast, with fears the stricken vessel could become “an accident waiting to happen” as summer approaches.

The 25-metre vessel ran aground in stormy weather in the early hours of Thursday, December 11, 2025, near Aber Hywel, Dinas.

Since then, the wreck has become an increasing cause for concern among local marine users. A 3D survey of the seabed carried out in February showed the vessel wedged on a rocky section of seabed, while photographs taken the same month by JC Explores revealed it had become more submerged, with much of the stern and parts of the deck underwater at high tide and the hold filled with water.

In January, more than 10,000 litres of fuel and oil were salvaged from the vessel.

Now, with more people expected on the water during the warmer months, warnings are being made that the wreck poses a serious hazard to kayakers, paddleboarders and small craft users.

Kayaking guide Paul Cokeley said: “It’s a magnet for younger people. They don’t see the danger, but it’s a really dangerous thing there.

“It is already drawing people on kayaks, paddle boards, and small craft who may not be aware of the significant structural dangers.

“With open doors and a compromised hull, there is a high risk of entrapment or falls for anyone attempting to board it.

“Imagine that you got trapped in there; the tide comes in, and you drown.

“There’s a lot of pleasure craft around as the summer comes. It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

In the past week, bright yellow hazard signs have been placed on the wreck in an effort to warn people away. The signs were commissioned by Matthew Bull Fishing and made by Abersign.

Mr Cokeley said it was positive that warning signs had now been installed, but questioned whether they would be enough on their own to stop people from attempting to climb aboard.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “HM Coastguard continues to monitor the situation and is in contact with both the vessel owner and salvor.”

The Western Telegraph understands that local firms and salvage contractors are still working to remove the wreck as soon as possible, although the operation remains complicated by seabed survey findings and weather conditions.

Further confirmation on the next steps is expected in due course.

Caption:

Warning signs have been placed on the wreck of the Resolute off Dinas to highlight the danger to the public (Pic: Abersign/Matthew Bull Fishing).

Support from Princes Gate helps expand school lessons and launch new open-water initiative across South Wales

MORE children in Pembrokeshire are learning to swim thanks to an expanding programme backed by Long Course Weekend and Princes Gate water.

The 2026 Pembrokeshire Learn-to-Swim Legacy Programme is set to reach 55 local schools this year, giving more than 1,000 pupils access to structured swimming lessons.

Organisers say the scheme is already making a clear difference. Last year, 62 per cent of Pembrokeshire pupils in Years three to six achieved the national swimming standard, which is 22 per cent above the national average. Among Year six pupils, 80 per cent reached the National Curriculum standard.

At one participating school, the swim pass rate reportedly rose from just 8 per cent to 80 per cent in a single year.

The programme was first launched by Long Course Weekend in 2022 after Swim Wales reported that up to 52 per cent of children leave primary school unable to swim.

Its aim is to improve access to lessons in schools, raise swimming standards, and ensure cost and opportunity are not barriers for children in communities around Long Course Weekend host towns.

This year’s programme will also include a new open-water initiative across South Wales, with planned sessions designed to help both children and adults build confidence in natural bodies of water.

Matthew Evans, CEO of Long Course Weekend, said: “Although each host region shapes the Programme around its own needs, the purpose remains the same: to leave a long-term, positive legacy, ensuring accessibility and affordability are never obstacles to participation or progression.

“With the support of our partners such as Princes Gate water, our initiative is designed to help overcome barriers in sport and create opportunities not only for children, but for people of all ages to participate in physical activities in a positive, supported environment.”

Princes Gate, which bottles its water at source near Narberth, has continued its support for the programme through its Pembrokeshire site.

Niall Bridge, Plant Manager of the Princes Gate bottling site, Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages UK, said: “Being a water company, with our site based near the Pembrokeshire coast, it was a natural choice for us to support the Long Course Weekend Legacy Programme with its mission of improving the swimming ability across the region.

“We want to be a good neighbour in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle our Princes Gate water. We are proud to call this beautiful place home and share the same vision as LCW – to improve access, opportunity and wellbeing in our local communities.”

Long Course Weekend Wales, founded in 2010, has become one of Europe’s best-known multi-sport endurance festivals, bringing athletes from around the world to Tenby each year.

Through its Legacy Programme, the event also aims to leave a lasting benefit in its host communities by directing funds into projects that help people learn to swim, cycle and run.

Photo caption: Backing the scheme: Matthew Evans, Abigail Felstead, Morgan Grieve and Niall Bridge (Pic supplied).