Waterford Peated Woodbrook

Waterford Tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, November 27th 2023, Whisky #6 Nose: A strong, clear aroma of almost greasy, oily peat smoke. Chocolate, roasted nuts, coffee and underneath it all (instead of being in the forefront as usual with Waterford) there is the signature fragrant white-bread and gristy cereal distillate. Palate: Big, oily and mouth-coating smoky arrival. Espresso, chicory, chocolate, herbs, and a touch of brine show up in the later palate. Finish: Long. Smoked cereal, fruit and berry flavours that slowly fade into a distant echo. A satisfying and very well integrated peated whisky. At 74ppm this is the most heavily peated whisky that Waterford has yet released, and the character of the peating is more like an Islay whisky than anything they have done before. In fact, this is somewhat reminiscent of Port Charlotte Heavily Peated. Distilled in 2019 and bottled in mid 2023, this is technically 3 years old. Maturation was approximately 1/3 virgin US and French oak, 1/3 first-fill ex-bourbon barrel and 1/3 vin doux naturel cask so this shows more cask-influence than is typical for Waterford, with sweet vanilla and berry notes being contributed. The fact that this is barely noticeable is testament to the excellent integration with the peat smoke. As with the Peated Fenniscourt I tasted prior to this expression, there were no rubbery, sulphurous aromas or off-notes on the palate whatsoever, either neat or when watered. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)