THE award-winning Da Mhile Distillery in Ceredigion received the royal seal of approval with a visit from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales this week.

Prince Charles stopped off at Glynhynod Farm, Llandysul, to look around the first organic farmhouse distillery in the UK as part of his week-long tour of Wales.

In the tasting gallery, guests were enjoying an organic gin and tonic awaiting the Prince’s arrival. The Prince was initially welcomed by John Savage-Onstwedder, the founder of Dà Mhìle distillery, and also one of the founders of the renowned Caws Teifi Cheese.

The Prince was introduced to Robert-Jan Savage-Onstwedder, the youngest son and farm manager at Glynhynod Farm. They discussed organic farming and in particular the Welsh Black cattle kept at the farm.

John-James Savage-Onstwedder, the eldest son and distillery manager, then took the Prince on a tour of the distillery where he saw the distillation process of Welsh gin and later in the warehouse, the maturation of the highly anticipated Welsh whisky.

Once in the tasting gallery, the Prince sampled some of the distillery’s produce and went around talking to the visitors. As he did so, he enjoyed an organic G&T and relished speaking to all the assembled guests.

After the Prince’s tour of the distillery and tasting gallery, John Savage-Onstwedder thanked the Prince for his visit and said:

“Sir, from one grandfather to another, and I believe you will concur with me when I say that if our grandchildren and their children are to have any viable future at all it will surely have to be far more sustainable than it is now.”

The Prince nodded in agreement. He unveiled a plaque commemorating the visit and signed the visitors’ book. He was then given a hamper of distillery produce and a bouquet of wild flowers by two of the founder’s grandchildren.