Waterford Ballykilcavan: Edition 1.1

Waterford's Single Farm Origin series traces each single malt to the Irish farm where the barley was grown. Ballykilcavan Edition 1.1 is the first release from David Walsh-Kemmis's land west of the River Barrow in Co. Laois, one of the historic barley heartlands of Ireland. The farm's fertile fields sit sheltered by ancient woodland on a soil profile considered among the best in the region for malting barley. This bottling uses the Taberna variety, harvested in 2015 and distilled in early 2016. An outturn of 8,640 bottles was produced, each carrying a TÉIREOIR code that links back to the specific field, soil analysis and cask records for the release.

Maturation ran just over four years in three cask types: 45% first fill American oak, 28% French oak and 27% Vin Doux Naturel. The first fill American oak supplies vanillin and coconut lactones through contact with the charred inner staves. The French oak contributes a finer grained tannin structure and higher ratio of whisky lactones, giving the blend a drier, more peppery backbone. The Vin Doux Naturel component, casks previously used to age the fortified sweet wines of southern France, adds oxidised fruit notes, raisin and a concentrated sweetness that counters the Bourbon vanilla. Bottled at 50% without chill filtration or added colour.

On the nose, fresh cut grass, redcurrant and vibrant barley. The palate brings cooked banana, brown sugar, mulled wine and cinnamon, closing on a dry oily finish.