Single Malt Whisky, Ireland
Established in 2014 in a former Guinness brewery, Ireland’s Waterford distillery is shaking up the world of whisky by promoting terroir and barley through an approach inspired by the greatest winemakers. A blend of single malts aged in bourbon casks (26%), new American oak casks (24%) and ex-Bordeaux rouge casks (50%), this Micro Cuvée is a perfect illustration of Waterford founder Mark Reynier’s deep attachment to the world of wine. Its palette of aromas and flavours is unmistakably original, highlighting the barley with an uncommon strength of character.
Following the success of the vibrant bottle The Waterford Cuvée Koffi, signed by visual artist Nathanaël Koffi, Waterford continues its artistic exploration by teaming up with multi-faceted artist Julie Lansom. Inspired by the principle of synaesthesia, she has translated the nuances of Ireland into a palette of colours, associating each concept and flavour with a specific hue. Barley, peat, smoke, wind, sea, field – these founding elements in the creation of this micro-cuvée are carefully arranged on the label, where peat plays the role of cement, uniting the components of this original edition.
TASTING NOTES
Appearance : Lively gold.
Nose : Fresh, lively. Herbaceous (chlorophyll), medicinal (balsam), spicy (clove, nutmeg) and fruity (apple), the first nose is a concentrate of Ireland. With aeration, the aromatic palette becomes suave, honeyed (acacia) and vanilla (custard).
Palate : Clean, sharp. Malty and tangy (citrus zest), the attack reveals unctuous flavours of orgeat syrup, green licorice and germinating barley. The midpalate is reminiscent of delicious porridge. Coconut adds an exotic touch to the finish.
Overall : long, balanced. Both spicy (cinnamon) and roasted (coffee), the start of the finish is a veritable explosion of fresh fruit (pear, apple, ripe grapes, walnuts…). The original aftertaste evokes the atmosphere of a vegetable garden (zucchini, green beans, green tomatoes).