Waterford Bannow Island Edition 1.2

The first release of Bannow Island matured for three years, seven months and 27 days. This one matured a little longer on the cask, namely three years, 10 months and 23 days. You can find all this information thanks to the codes on the bottle. You'll notice immediately that the composition of cask types is slightly different as well. Here we have a combination of French wine casks, bourbon and virgin oak and even some oloroso. The first release I found very pleasant (contrary to the Ballykilcavan), so I was certainly curious about this new batch.

Very grainy and sweet on the nose with marzipan, freshly chopped wood, caramel, rye bread, hint of peach, milk chocolate and lots of wild flowers in a sunny field. It is not very different from the first batch. Maybe just a tad more sweet.

Oily and immediately very spicy, something I also had with the first release. White pepper, ginger and nutmeg. Then it becomes a bit vegetal (leaves, green garden herbs and the sap of young twigs) before the sweetness kicks in. Then returns in the guise of light honey and caramel. Hint of pineapple and rhubarb.

The finish is medium long, drying with a malty heart and… Hey, that's a surprise: coffee grounds at the death. Nice!

The difference with the first release is not that big (not that it has to be). This is a little more sweet and the finish is a tad shorter. Especially that finish was quite pleasant. Thank you, Bart, for the sample.