Waterford Bannow Island Single Farm Origin Edition 1.2 50% 2016

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (88)

Piles of data are available, such as the fact that it was Overture 2015 barley, that the actual age is ‘1322 days’, so 3,62 years, that the A.B.V. was 72.01% before reducing, that the grower was a gentleman named Ed Harpur in Wexford, and that his first car was a blue Morris Marina. I’m joking now. Colour: gold. Nose: there’s 25% French oak here, and I would say it feels a bit, imparting a slightly spicier breadiness than what’s usual with some high-end craft whiskies (I know the word craft is very pre-Covid, but there). Basically, there’s rather a lot of mashed potatoes – with nutmeg of course – then ‘opening a new pack of shortbread’ and a pretty earthy barleyness. Probably a touch of wormwood too, moss, and butterscotch. I find this lovely, and much less an oak-bomb than I had feared. The barley’s clearly audible. Mouth: perhaps more VDN impact, so perhaps a few raisins. Other than that, it’s really a spicy bread that’s paying first fiddle, pumpernickel, with more nutmeg and a few mustard seeds. Oh and some aniseed too. Finish: rather long, fresh, with a little caraway on top of the nutmeg. I’ll add a few drops of Meursault, I also know this will please the owners. Comments: I’m a sucker for these young ‘vibrant’ and bready whiskies. Only little problem, I knew this was going to be good, so no big surprise.

BOW (88)

Text courtesy of Serge Valentin, Whiskyfun.com:

At Waterford, where tèireoir matters

Mark Reynier and gang will never do things like anyone else, that’s for sure. Even the new word ‘tèireoir’ that, I suppose, means Irish terroir, is francely amusing, is it not? Anyway, Waterford’s first official bottlings have arrived and naturally, we cannot wait. I won’t try to add any further literature though, especially since our friend Billy Abbot over there in London Town has already done it in the most splendid of manners. All I’ll add is that the caskbills (yet a now word, no?) are a little different depending on the bottlings, but they remain pretty similar, with some refill and virgin American oak, some French oak, and some VDN which, I suppose, means Vin Doux Naturel in this context, so sweet wine. Let us proceed if you will… Oh and the bottles are as blue as Haig Club’s, but I doubt they would hire David Beckham. Now I’ve heard Cantona was free, and so is Thierry Henry. Maybe not a good idea…