Waterford Ballykilcavan Edition 1.1

This is my favorite of the single farm releases for the European market that I’ve tried. Like many of the others, the nose transports you to an Irish dairy farm, smelling of cream and damp hay. You can smell the soil on this one too, and a pleasant hint of sulfur. The palate is creamy with a hint of saline — a salty lassi, I guess — while the finish takes a turn to sour fruit chews. The malted barley shines throughout. This wasn’t the most popular of the European releases, but for my money, it’s the most interesting and the one I’d want to return to, alongside the Gaia. Probably sold out in its 1.1 iteration, but keep an eye out for its sequel.

Nose: Amaretto, wow, apples, walnuts, white pepper, apricots. Palate: Refreshing, Light, very subtle spices that increase dramatically, orange marmalade, quite different from the nose. Vegetal, mineral, very earthy, a fantastic representation of terroir and a fleeting taste of fruits. Very brief. Finish: very smooth on the palate with a peppery kick and some faint fruits in the middle. This creation could be exceptionally intriguing with a different barrel. I will definitely revisit it.

Excellent for an Irish spirit. High flavor notes.