Waterford Heritage Hunter 1.1

Aroma: Delightfully floral and earthy barley - so pure and elegant it makes me want to shout its praises from the rooftops in sheer joy. When first poured it is reserved and crisp, but with a little time it blossoms magnificently. Bouquet garni made from the finest fresh herbs, warm croissants, sweet pear, and lemon liqueur all drenched in succulent barley oils. There's even a mild briny seaweed-like note reminiscent of Ardbeg (but no actual smoke, of course). This is a stunning aroma. 93/100 Palate: Oily and richly textured, this is a glorious tapestry of barley notes with currants, light fruitcake dusted with powdered sugar, gingerbread, marmalade, limoncello, and a pantry full of subtle baking spices. As it develops, it gains flavors of berries and black cherry compote, Assam tea, and an elegant Himalayan salt salinity. 90/100 Finish: Long. Currants, dried cranberries, lemon liqueur, pear eau-de-vie, salted caramel, toasted fruit bread, and sweetened black tea. 90/100 This whisky was crafted using Hunter heirloom barley, a strain resurrected through a particular individual’s efforts, and if ever you needed proof that modern barley hybrids are careening headlong into a ravine of yield at the expense of flavor and aroma, then you need look no further. This is bursting with seductively voluptuous character and style. At first sip, you could be forgiven for thinking it was an orange and herb liqueur. However, this initial sweetness is an illusion that quickly fades as your palate registers that it is experiencing, perhaps for the first time, the full depth of aromas and flavors that really good barley can offer when treated with care and respect. A drop or two of water causes no harm and you can even dilute this whisky considerably without the profile changing. Water only seems to reinvigorate it, returning it to its crisp initial state before the sweetness and depth that emerge with time once again present themselves. I lament that a certain distillery went into receivership and that stunning whisky such as this is no longer being produced. I don’t know the current situation with that distillery (I believe there was an offer from a US distilling company?) but I hope the individual involved still has the energy to begin another project. If they crowd-funded, I’d be involved without hesitation. If you see a bottle, buy it. The price listed here is what I paid three years ago, but it would be much higher now on the secondary market, if you can even find it. If you're fortunate, you might find a dusty bottle. “Captivating”: 91/100 (5 stars)

Has a darker flavor profile than a typical Irish whiskey. You can almost taste the earth it grew from. There is a soft salinity along with some tannic, bitterness on the finish, creating a dry mouthfeel. The body is light and elegant. Overall, there are some soft baking spices present including cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, but these really only emerge towards the end. We find it interesting that one of the aging processes used casks that previously held French sweet wine. It doesn’t come through as you might expect, but rather lightens the barley character. Overall, a very unique and successful release.

Less oak influence bringing out an earthy barley 🤤 Daddy day out 👶🏻