Waterford Micro Cuvée: Hearth

A rich and malty entry that expresses sweetness and roundness on the palate. Warming, slightly spicy and exquisitely flavorful, this is an Irish whisky that captures a playful aspect of the emerald isle. Wood, grain, water and time all play a part in this expression. As the falvor journey goes forward, different notes come to light. A bit of baking spice, softly tannic oak, chewy barley, baked pear, apple tart, blackberry and even cream. This is a great spirit to pair with a rich dessert or a creamy forward cheese. We continue to be impressed with the Waterford releases. The capture the independent spirit of Ireland.

The nose starts with a mix of chocolate, fruit cake and wheat field funk then freshly opened bag of raisins, toasted walnuts and a mild white pepper spice followed by lemon zest, orange slices and ruby red grapefruit that transitions to ginger, cloves and sourdough bread with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a thin to medium mouthfeel starting with a mild sour and bitter funk then dark chocolate cocoa powder dusted prunes, toasted walnuts and a mild szechuan pepper followed by lemongrass, orange blossoms and ruby red grapefruit that transitions to ginger, cloves and charred sourdough bread with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length with a moderate farmyard funk, chocolate covered raisins, sour apple candy, ginger, cloves and light ashy oak. The nose didn't start out promising with moderately sour fruits, bread and funky barnyard that doesn't improve on the taste with a mild sour and bitter funky start that continues in the sour territory with some chocolate and grassy notes before finishing with farmy funk, sour fruits and light spices. I was really excited to try this one as I've heard good things about Waterford, but this one just comes up as a miss for me. I'd still like to try some of their other offerings but likely at a bar before I'd venture into a full bottle purchase. A huge thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for the generous sample.