Waterford Bannow Island Edition 1.1

After Bruichladdich was sold Mark Reynier moved to Ireland and founded the new Waterford Distillery there. His search for terroir goes one. The first releases sold out immediately, but new bottlings are underway already. This Bannow Island was produced from barely from the eponymous farm and matured in a mix of casks: American oak, American virgin oak, French oak and French Vin Doux Naturel casks. It was cut to 50%.

Whoa, this is a good nose! A lovely mix of rye bread and bakery spices, molded wood, potato peel and nutmeg. That is followed immediately by fruity notes of mango, pineapple and overripe banana on a bottom of pastry. Hint of sweetened, but cold coffee in the back. This is very promising and entertaining.

Good body, nicely oily – and immediately pretty piquant. Ginger, nutmeg, anise, white pepper and a truckload of cloves. I suspect the French wine casks have had quite some influence. The rye bread now moves over to make room for more quasi tropical fruit. Next to mango and pineapple, some nectarines and raisins appear. Very good!

The finish is quite long, sweet and dry, but very satisfying.

While it certainly shows some young, rough edges, this is a very interesting malt. Craftmanship. It was released at 70 EUR and is worth it.