Waterford Lakefield: Edition 1.1

Lakefield 1.1 is a Single Farm Origin release drawing on barley from Seamus Duggan's farm in Co. Laois. Duggan is a previous Irish Barley Grower of the Year, and his inland land sits on deep loam soils derived from limestone and sandstone that Waterford identifies as exceptional for malting barley. Distilled in 2017 and bottled in February 2021 after four years of maturation, the release produced an outturn of 30,528 bottles. Every bottle carries the TÉIREOIR code linking to the full farm and cask records.

Maturation used the Waterford standard combination of first fill American oak, virgin American oak, premium French oak and Vin Doux Naturel casks. First fill Bourbon contributes vanillin and coconut lactones through the charred inner wood. Virgin American oak adds toasted sugar and raw lignin derived spice. French oak delivers finer grained tannins with clove phenolics. The Vin Doux Naturel casks, previously used for fortified sweet wines from southern France, add oxidised fruit esters and concentrated sweetness. Bottled at 50% without chill filtration or added colour.

On the nose, citric brightness, fresh fruit, vanilla and hay. The palate delivers a mellow expression with rhubarb, apple tart, chocolate and yeasty warmth.