Waterford Ratheadon Edition 1.1

I took part in an online Redbreast tasting a few weeks back, organized by the MIT Alumni Association. I didn't attend MIT, which just goes to show it's beneficial to know intelligent individuals. The tasting involved Redbreast's sample pack – featuring the 12, 15, and Lustau – with attendees needing to acquire their own whiskey. I had some difficulty locating the sample pack in stock, but eventually found it at The Whisky Shop USA in San Francisco. For reasons unknown, the package began its cross-country trip, paused in Kansas for several days, and then was sent back to San Francisco. The Whisky Shop offered to reship it, but unfortunately, it was too late for the tasting. Redbreast would not be for me. However, I still wanted to join the tasting and didn't want to sit there empty-handed, feeling glum. Luckily, I had the ideal Irish substitute – a sample of Waterford Ratheadon, a gift from a friend. If you haven't checked out the review from that same friend yet, do yourself a favor and scroll down. This showcases the absolute pinnacle of local sourcing and transparency. I'm a big fan. Did I enjoy the whiskey? On both the nose and palate, it's undeniably Irish – fruity, primarily white grape with some lemon, cereal malt, and caramel. The peculiar aspect is the mineral note that has appeared in every Waterford review I've encountered thus far. That's no accident, as it's unmistakable and truly stands out against the otherwise traditional Irish profile. I had mixed feelings – it's distinctive, but while it's certainly oceanic in character, I felt it leaned slightly towards a fishy taste. As someone who eats fish, I'm not unfamiliar with its flavor, but I found it a bit out of place here. The ethanol is noticeable, which wasn't entirely unexpected for a young whiskey at 50% ABV, and overall, it drinks a bit intensely. I added a little water, and the Ratheadon responded wonderfully. At an ABV somewhere in the low 40s, the intensity subsides, the fruits and minerality are softened, and the maltiness becomes more prominent. Ultimately, I appreciated the Ratheadon, but I'm captivated by Waterford. I'll be looking out for future releases, and I hope other craft distilleries will adopt Waterford's approach. I'll eventually get to the Redbreasts, but for now, I was delighted to experience the Ratheadon. My thanks to my friend!

This is the brand new Irish Waterford distillery’s Ratheadon (it sounds like a dinosaur, doesn't it?). A few key points about these spirits: they focus on single farms and prioritize terroir. And how cool is this – there's a tracking code on each bottle that you can enter on their website to access a wealth of detailed information. My bottle came from the Ratheadon farm, featuring Irina barley sown in August 2015, fermented in May 2016, distilled over 2 days, matured until February 2020, and bottled in June 2020. Only 2000 bottles were produced, with just 1400 available for purchase, and exclusively in Ireland. It even provides a Google map of the terroir, soil type (surface water clay), cask composition, and the volume of liquid in each cask! In my ten years and 700 tastings, I've never encountered such a high level of detail! Needless to say, with such small micro-production, these initial releases (from farms in Bannow Island, Ballyclavin, and Ratheadon) sold out in minutes, and not at exorbitant prices. I paid only $60 for mine. You'll now see them on the secondary market for 3-5 times the original price. I don't typically comment on artistic aspects or bottling, but I was genuinely impressed by the bottle itself. It's an elegant dark blue, heavy, with a solid glass stopper. Okay, so they clearly have transparency, technology, affordability, and a focus on quality... but how is the liquid? For $60, I wasn't expecting much, at least not initially. But wow, for $60, I don't think I've had anything better. This is unlike any Irish whiskey I've ever tasted. Like most spirits over 42% ABV, I needed to add a few drops of water. The nose was initially underwhelming – typical malty, bready notes. But the palate truly shines – fruit is present, combined with a maritime salty taste. It's almost like a Talisker 18. In fact, if tasted blind, I would have mistaken this for Talisker 18. For such a young spirit, it's remarkably mature, a testament to an obsessive focus on quality. Among the new distilleries, I believe Bimber had impressed me most with their new offerings. Before that, it was probably Kilchoman, and that was 10 years ago. This is superior. Hey, new distilleries in the US and Scotland, you should all take notes from these guys...

It's about the origin of the ingredients. It sounds like Waterford believes it matters immensely. I detect something distinctive and perhaps classic about it. The process goes from the farm to the customer without a factory, and it's somewhat invigorating. As someone who appreciates Irish whiskey, I'm eager to sample the outcomes of their philosophy and convictions. An ever-present ethanol note overshadows the delicate aromas. It has an Irish character of fresh fruit and sweetness, malt and yeast. Imagine a bowl filled with diced green bananas, Granny Smith apples, sweet vanilla cream, cinnamon, barley sugar, and Frosted Mini Wheats. Mix them together and inhale. It presents a robust breakfast aroma. Now, take what's fresh in your olfactory senses and shift your perspective. A substantial, syrupy, smooth texture coats the palate. It's a dessert that's exceedingly sweet. Lemon shortcake, white pepper, graham crackers, fresh ginger, apples, and honey, all dusted with powdered sugar. The ginger's zest carries through to the finish, where oak tannins emerge with vanilla and a hint of barrel char. It concludes with an enjoyable medium duration. A well-rounded and complete harmony of scents and tastes. Its youth is apparent. It's lively and bright. The method of handling everything internally is captivating and, in this instance, shows considerable potential. If this spirit ages for a few more years, it might reach the highest echelons of whiskies. The aroma and flavor are full and unadulterated. Thanks to a friend for the excellent sample and for providing it to everyone who has tasted this so far. [90/100][Tasted: 3/6/21]

Of the recent distilleries that have emerged, only Waterford and Nc'nean have truly captured my attention. Waterford's commitment to collaborating with Irish farmers is extensive and admirable, reflecting a genuine terroir-driven approach. The initial three releases were hard to find stateside, so I felt fortunate to sample a pour generously shared by a friend. At only three years old, this spirit is undeniably young on both the nose and palate, with prominent barley and grass notes that benefit from a splash of water. However, an underlying vibrancy and quality suggest this distillery is on the right path. Having experienced how interesting some single malt whiskies can become in the 6-7 year range from distilleries like Benromach and Bruichladdich, I eagerly anticipate Waterford's future offerings. If Waterford bottles become more readily available and are priced around $70, I could see myself regularly keeping a bottle on hand. Cheers and many thanks again to my friend!

The aroma presents grassy, earthy, and perhaps some spicy notes. The taste echoes the grass and earthiness with an intense sweetness. Flavors include grapes, caramel, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar. A gentle tannin follows, lingering through the brief conclusion. It evokes a newly made, artisanal American whiskey. I was curious about the impact of the diverse, highly active barrels, but it feels somewhat unfocused, with the wine barrels being the most prominent. More aging and blending might improve it. I suspect that would fully mask the barley, which is intended to be their unique feature. I succumbed to the buzz, and frankly, I'm quite let down.

Second on my PBM tasting. Traveled all the way from Ireland to NY and then to NZ. This unfortunately was tasted after the Hibiki 21 and all its ancient complexity. You could definitely detect its youth and simpler character, but hey this thing is a toddler in comparison. Despite the slightly youthful spirit base which isn't quite integrated yet with the rest of the spirit you can taste its potential. Oily green vanilla banana white pepper and clove. I look forward to hearing more from these producers! Thanks to a friend