Bottlers and Distillers Wales (B&D Wales) has entered a partnership with Vale Resort in Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, to construct a distillery and visitor experience centre at Hensol Castle in South Wales.

Set to open later this year, the project will comprise a distillery, a bottling plant, a bonded warehouse, a visitors experience centre, a restaurant and a gin school, in addition to the development of a Hensol Castle branded portfolio and a white labelling function.

The facility will be constructed in the basement of the Grade 1 listed building, which is a former filming location for television series such as Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Torchwood.

The Hensol Castle Distillery will be constructed as part of a £7m investment in the 17th century castle. It will manufacture a range of entry-point, mid-level and premium-quality gins, vodkas and other spirits, including a low sugar, calorie and alcohol-by-volume (ABV) range.

B&D Wales intends to make the spirits available in local pubs and restaurants, as well as supermarkets, wholesalers and cash and carry outlets nationally.

The distillery is expected to create 120 jobs over the next three years.

Vale Resort managing director Stephen Leeke said: “This is a hugely exciting development at the Vale Resort and another critical step forward in the overall redevelopment of the historic Hensol Castle.

“The distillery experience set in a beautiful Grade I listed building will be something totally unique, not just in Wales but globally.

“It is a key part of our strategy for the re-development of Hensol Castle and its destination restaurant, which will focus on the very best of Welsh food and drink.”

In addition to touring the distillery, learning about the history of gin and participating in a gin tasting exercise, visitors will be able to distil their own unique bottle of gin.

The production facility, gin school and visitor experience centre will open later this year.

Bottles and Distillers Wales director Andy Mallows said: “Together with Vale Resort we are building a modern distillery and bottling plant that will produce 5 million bottles per year of quality Welsh spirits from gin and vodka to rum and other NPDs.”