Waterford Peated Ballybanon 1.1

The aroma is an evocative and intriguing combination of barley, smoke, and a hint of fruit. It has a medium body with a moderate amount of peat. The experience is contemplative and somewhat chewy, with the intensity smoothed by a splash of water or a large ice cube. It brings to mind a gentle Speyside Scotch, yet the spirit possesses an distinctly Irish character. As with every release from this distillery, we commend their meticulous attention to detail and their revival of the nearly forgotten Irish tradition of peated whiskey.

Quite peaty at first, with some banana, lemon, and apple. Also a little smoky. The finish has cereal notes, an oily texture, a subtle salty touch, and dry herbs. There's a mild herbaceous bitterness throughout. Overall, I believe it's a bit overpriced for what it offers, but it's still very drinkable.

Excellent peated Irish whiskey (47 ppm) made from barley sourced from a single local farm. Grain and vanilla notes are also present, and while the peat is quite prominent, it integrates very smoothly with a lot of freshness, making you want another sip. Nice long finish with smoky notes. Delicious.

The nose is deep earth mixed with sea salt, brine, and oil. Musty notes of malted apple. The palate is extremely earthy and dusty, with sweetness lingering in the background and beautiful smoky aromas. Grassy peat.

Firm peat, meh.