NV Waterford Terroir Case

The Waterford Terroir Case contains six bottles (70cl) – five single-origin whiskies and the first release of their blend, The Cuvée. All six whiskies undergo the same fermentation, distillation and ageing process, with the same composition of barrels (33% ex-Bourbon cask 19% virgin American oak, 25% ex-wine cask and 23% ex sweet or fortified wine casks). All just under five years old, these whiskies are all about the terroir profiles of each farm, rather than oak finishing. The Ballymorgan 1.2 bottling comes from barley grown on light soils from one of Ireland’s sunniest aspects, producing a whisky with a vibrant barley-heavy nose and oily texture. It is beautifully refreshing, making for a savoury-styled whisky with a smooth finish. The Broomlands 1.2 bottling comes from barely grown on similar Clonroche soils as Ballymorgan but in a cooler climate. It has a complex nose of bananas, dried spice and savoury, earthy tones. There is a lovely textural finesse to the whisky and it has excellent balance with a smooth, creamy finish. The Sheestown 1.2 bottling comes from barley grown on Elton soils producing a more herbaceous, earthy nose with riper honey and light floral heather aromas. There is a real intensity to the palate, with added spice notes and a very long finish. The Grattansbrook 1.1 bottling (also grown on Elton soils) has similar spicy, savoury herbaceous nose but is fruitier on the palate and has a lovely full-bodied density, which is texturally creamy and rounded on the palate with a spicy finish. The Hook Head 1.1 bottling, also from barley grown on Elton soils but close to the sea, has more iodine, seaweed, seaspray and earthy flavours. The rich, viscous texture makes it tangy and moreish. The inaugural Cuvée is Waterford’s flagship release, combining whisky from 25 different farms to create a more complex whole. It has a wonderfully layered texture – rich, smooth and very elegant. A textural complexity really builds on the palate and finishes long. Tasting this varied range of top-quality whiskies is a fascinating exploration into how whisky flavours and textures are affected by their terroir. None of the whiskies is chill-filtered or coloured, and they’re all bottled at 50% alcohol. Each Terroir Case contains one bottle each of Ballymorgan 1.2, Sheestown 1.2, Broomlands 1.2, Grattansbrook 1.1, Hook Head 1.1 and The Cuvée (2021 release).