Waterford Cuvée Koffi

Cuvée Koffi is Waterford's flagship single malt and the oldest whisky the distillery has released, built from 24 individually distilled Single Farm Origins all at least six years old. Released in spring 2024, it was positioned by founder Mark Reynier as the apogee of the Waterford range, a demonstration that layering farm specific distillates in the manner of Bordeaux and Champagne assemblages produces a whisky greater than its component parts. The label artwork is by French artist Nathanaël Koffi, the source of the Cuvée nickname. Every bottle carries a TÉIREOIR code linking to the individual farms, soils and cask records behind the blend.

Maturation used four cask types in carefully balanced proportions: 36% first fill American oak, 17% virgin American oak, 21% premium French oak and 26% Vin Doux Naturel. The first fill American oak contributes vanillin and coconut lactones from the char layer, while the virgin American oak sits heavier on raw lignin and hemicellulose, pushing toasted sugar and peppery spice forward. Premium French oak delivers a finer grain tannin structure with cinnamon and clove phenolics. The Vin Doux Naturel casks, previously used to age fortified sweet wines from southern France, bring oxidised fruit esters and concentrated sweetness that rounds the oak spice. Bottled at 50% without chill filtration or added colour.

Tasting notes run from red apple and brown bread on the nose into marmalade, white pepper and chilli chocolate on the palate, closing on dry mouthwatering spice.