Waterford “Die Ermittler”

Die Ermittler, meaning 'The Investigators', is a Micro Cuvée developed exclusively for the German market through ERMURI, the German specialist retailer. Bottled in September 2023 with an outturn of 1,200 bottles, the release resulted from a collaboration in which Manfred and Jannik Kröger travelled to Waterford to participate directly in the cask selection and assemblage process. Head distiller Ned Gahan worked with them to combine distillates from multiple Single Farm Origins into a bottling tailored to German tastes. Every bottle carries the TÉIREOIR code that links to the specific farm, soil and cask records behind the whisky.

The assemblage follows Waterford's standard approach of combining first fill and virgin American oak with premium French oak and Vin Doux Naturel casks. First fill Bourbon contributes vanillin and coconut lactones from the charred inner wood. Virgin American oak adds toasted sugar and raw lignin spice. French oak brings finer tannin grain with clove phenolics. Vin Doux Naturel casks, previously used for fortified sweet wines from southern France, add oxidised fruit esters and honeyed sweetness. Bottled at 50% without chill filtration or added colour.

The nose opens with pear, apricot, bread crust and stone fruit over elegant perfume. The palate carries warm spices, orange, salted almond, dark chocolate and liquorice, closing on a dry spiced finish.