Origin: Wexford (Ireland)
Type: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Strength: 50%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon First Fill, virgin, ex-Wine, ex-Marsala and ex-Port
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Waterford Distillery
Average price: € 75.00
Official website: waterfordwhisky.com
Vote: 83/100
Let’s go back to the single farm origins of Irish Waterford with a bottling that was part of my most recent tasting at Valley Beer’s Pub in Arzignano.
Made as always with obsessive attention to the origins of the raw material, it’s a whiskey released in February 2021 in 30,528 bottles at the usual 50%ABV and with a maturation similar to that of its little brothers from other farms.
46% first-fill ex-Bourbon casks (40 in all, some from Wild Turkey and Heaven Hill), 26% US virgin casks (20 in all), 15% ex-French wine Margaux casks (nine) and 16% % of ex-Marsala (six) and ex-Port (two) casks, for a total of just over 3 and a half years of maturation.
Tasting notes
Strong presence of winy notes on the nose, dominated by red fruits (currants, wild strawberries, gooseberries), pink grapefruit and cereal biscuits, diluting over time the more acidic aspects in a custard with pieces of green apple. The vegetal aspect is strengthened with touches of mint and eucalyptus, confirming the fresh and youthful nature of the whiskey. Traces of wood on the bottom.
On the palate it opens with an accentuated spiciness, chilli and ginger lively pinch the tongue and lips with accents of cinnamon on white fruit (unripe banana, apple, white melon) and vegetable connotations. Cereal biscuits are back accompanied by lemon tart, red fruits for the acidic part and a slight saline trail along the length, in which the balsamic part also re-emerges.
Quite long and very dry finish, where the saline part is more present on vegetal, spicy and acidic notes of red fruits, cereals and a surprising hint of chocolate.
Undoubtedly young but not for this dish and banal, perhaps too crushed by the vinous influences but still able to amaze with some unexpected hints. Very drinkable thanks also to the saline part, disengaged with style.