Waterford Tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, November 27th 2023, Whisky #3 Nose: Clean, crisp barley aromas with buttery weight. There is a slight fruity fragrance of pears and apples and the same bready, yeasty notes I get on all Waterford whiskies. As is typical for Waterford the cask influence is subtle and elegant to the point of being almost undetectable. Palate: The arrival is all about creamy barley flavours and these persist through the palate with just a hint of stone-fruits and orchard fruits appearing later. The texture is oily, unctious and satisfying. Like other Waterford whiskies there is a chalky, peppery quality, but it is very reserved and gentle. Finish: Medium/long. Creamy cereals, baked rolls. This single-farm expression was distilled in 2018 and bottled in 2023 as a special release for the distillery’s “Growers Gathering”, a celebration event held for their growers and suppliers. Maturation was in virgin American and French oak. Only 600 bottles were made and none was available for export. The tasting event I attended in Sydney on November 27th was hosted by Mark Reynier, the owner of Waterford, as part of an Australian visit so I assume a few bottles were shipped here specifically for the tastings, or were perhaps donated by local collectors. It’s a very good whisky that stands as a fine example of what Waterford is all about – purity, integrity of production and innovation. It was my second favourite dram of the evening, and I rated it one percentage point less than Knockroe Edition 1.1. I rated that one higher as I felt that it had just a fraction more complexity and interest from the wine cask contribution. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars)