The Welsh Whisky Company/Penderyn Distillery has given the Wales Rugby Coach, ‘Honorary Welshman’ Warren Gatland, a celebratory bottle of whisky called ‘Gatastic’ as a send-off for their trip the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Warren Gatalnd is is, and will always be, a legend in Wales. Since he became the Welsh rugby team head coach in 2007 Wales have won four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams (2009, 2012, 2019), and reached the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup – a period of unparalleled success.

After the forthcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan, Gatland is leaving his post and, as a company who have worked closely with the WRU on our 4 Grand Slam Edition bottlings to date, Penderyn have decided to honour Gatland by creating an exclusive bottle of their Penderyn Single Malt Grand Slam 2019 Edition.

Director and brand designer, Glenn Tutssel, came up with the idea of creating a bottle called Gatastic. Glenn explained, “Gatastichas become a word synonymous with success in the world of Welsh rugby, our national sport, and once again we can hold our heads up high on the world stage. On behalf of Wales, its rugby supporters, and of course Penderyn who champion all things Welsh, we are indebted to Gatland, his coaching staff and the team for making us the proud nation we are today. This exclusive bottle is a small appreciation of everything you have achieved by encapsulating the pursuit of excellence!”

The whisky is the current Grand Slam 2019 Edition Portwood Finish, bottled at 46%, which has proved hugely successful. Glenn presented a case of the exclusive Gatastic bottle to Warren Gatland at the Vale Hotel – the Welsh team’s headquarters - on September 5, with Stephen Davies (Penderyn’s CEO), and Jon Tregenna (Penderyn’s Media Manager) in attendance.

After a career that took in playing for the All Blacks, as well as coaching Wasps, Connaught, Ireland and Waikato, Gatland took over a team that had won the Grand Slam in 2005. Gatland was also head coach of the British and Irish Lions on their 2013 tour of Australia, where they won the Test series, and the 2017 tour of New Zealand where the series was drawn.

Penderyn wishes Warren, his coaching staff, backroom staff, the WRU and the players every success in Japan, and hope that a wonderful tenure can be capped with the ultimate prize in world rugby. There will always be a ‘welcome in the hillsides’ for Gatland and, of course, in the Penderyn distillery.