Da Mhile Distillery
Dà Mhìle Distillery (pronounced da-vee-lay) is an organic farm distillery on Glynhynod Farm in Llandysul, Ceredigion, west Wales. When its own still opened in 2012, Dà Mhìle became Wales's second distillery to produce commercially available whisky made in Wales since the 19th century — a milestone that prompted the EU to formally recognise Wales as a whisky-producing nation. Holding Soil Association organic certification, the distillery produces a remarkably broad range of organic spirits: single malt whisky, seaweed gin, rum, absinthe, apple brandy, and liqueurs — all made on the farm using its own spring water and sustainable practices. The name Dà Mhìle translates as "two thousand" in Scottish Gaelic (Dwy Fil in Welsh), commemorating the millennium whisky commission from which the project grew.
Tours
Available
On-site Shop
Open
Online Shop
Available
History
The Savage-Onstwedder family arrived at Glynhynod Farm — "Remarkable Valley" in Welsh — from the Netherlands in July 1981 with a vision for organic farming and self-sufficiency. Their first enterprise was Caws Teifi, a raw-milk cheese still made on the farm today. The distilling story began in 1992 when John Savage-Onstwedder commissioned Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown to produce a batch of organic whisky — creating what became the first organic whisky of the modern era. A second batch was commissioned from Loch Lomond Distillery in 2000, the millennium year that gave the project its eventual name.
In 2012 the family opened their own distillery on the farm, inaugurated by First Minister Carwyn Jones, becoming the second Welsh distillery to produce commercially available whisky distilled in Wales. This event triggered the EU's formal recognition of Wales as a whisky-producing nation. The flagship single malt whisky, Tarian, is named after early patron Chris Phillips.
Production
All spirits carry Soil Association organic certification. Spring water is drawn from the farm's own land. The distillery uses farm wood to heat the still — a sustainability measure consistent with the organic philosophy. Whisky is distilled as a single malt and aged in Sherry and Oloroso casks at 46% ABV. The range extends to Wales's first organic rum (Dark Skies), an award-winning absinthe, apple brandy from farm-grown fruit, and the Seaweed Gin inspired by the west Wales coastline and its foraged botanicals.
Tasting Character
The flagship single malt Tarian is bottled at 46% ABV, aged in Sherry and Oloroso casks, producing a rich, fruit-forward whisky with dried fruit sweetness, warm spice, and a clean finish drawn from the pure farm spring water. The Seaweed Gin is distinctive for its coastal botanicals — samphire, seaweed, and west Wales herbs — providing a briny, herbal, and surprisingly elegant gin character. Dark Skies Rum carries tropical fruit and caramel notes. The distillery's award-winning absinthe is considered one of Britain's finest. Throughout the range, the organic provenance and farm spring water contribute a genuine terroir character.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- Dà Mhìle Tarian Single Malt Welsh Whisky — Sherry/Oloroso cask, 46% ABV, the flagship
- Dà Mhìle Springbank 1992 — Historic first batch, commissioned from Springbank
- Dà Mhìle Loch Lomond 2000 — Millennium batch from Loch Lomond
- Dà Mhìle Seaweed Gin — Coastal botanicals, foraged seaweed and samphire
- Dark Skies Rum — Wales's first organic rum
- Dà Mhìle Absinthe — Award-winning, one of Britain's finest absinthes
- Apple Brandy — Farm-grown fruit distillate
- Seasonal and limited edition gin variants (including Sloe Gin)
Buy their whiskey
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Visiting
The distillery is open Monday–Saturday, 10:00–16:00, with tours and tastings available throughout the week. A physical shop sells the full Dà Mhìle range alongside farm produce. An online shop is available at damhile.co.uk. Glynhynod Farm is situated near Llandysul, Ceredigion, accessible from Aberystwyth and the Ceredigion coast — a beautiful setting in the west Wales countryside.