Waterford Peated Woodbrook

Waterford Tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, November 27th 2023, Whisky #6 Aroma: A potent, distinct scent of nearly greasy, oily peat smoke. Chocolate, roasted nuts, coffee, and beneath it all, instead of being dominant as is typical for Waterford, lies the characteristic fragrant white bread and malty cereal distillate. Taste: A substantial, oily, and mouth-coating smoky sensation upon arrival. Espresso, chicory, chocolate, herbs, and a hint of saltiness emerge later on the palate. Finish: Extended. Smoked cereal, fruit, and berry flavors gradually fade into a distant memory. A fulfilling and exceptionally well-integrated peated whisky. At 74ppm, this is the most heavily peated whisky released by Waterford to date, and its peating character is more akin to an Islay whisky than any previous expression. In fact, it bears some resemblance to Port Charlotte Heavily Peated. Distilled in 2019 and bottled in mid-2023, this is technically 3 years old. The maturation involved roughly one-third virgin American and French oak, one-third first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, and one-third vin doux naturel casks, resulting in more cask influence than is usual for Waterford, with sweet vanilla and berry notes contributing. The fact that this is barely noticeable is a testament to the excellent integration with the peat smoke. Similar to the Peated Fenniscourt tasted before this one, there were no rubbery, sulfurous aromas or off-flavors on the palate, either neat or when diluted. “Very Good”: 85/100 (4 stars)