Review: Waterford Distillery Biodynamic Luna 1.1

Of their quest to create the proper “pure” whisky, Waterford Distillery is leaving no stone unturned. From an obsession with terroir, culminating of their current The Cuvee bottling, to a deal with natural practices, Waterford is taking an nearly winemaker-like strategy to the usually conservative craft of whisky-making. Final fall, the distillery launched a whisky that maybe emphasizes this strategy greater than every other. With Biondynamic Luna, a whisky that feels like a NASA mission, Waterford is showcasing a spirit created utilizing the “radical biodynamic farming philosophy.” Per Waterford’s CEO, Mark Reynier:

Through the Nineteen Eighties within the vineyards of Burgundy and Alsace, following many years of agro-chemical extra and the race for yield over high quality, I witnessed the renaissance of terroir and fashionable winemaking. Out of this, biodynamics blossomed – a brand new philosophy that at the beginning appeared outlandish, however after tasting the outcomes more and more proved its price.

Throughout my profession I’ve had the fortune to style the world’s biggest wines, it’s no shock to see the ever-increasing adoption of biodynamics within the seek for depth and purity of flavour. If for the grape, why not the grain?

This primary Luna launch is comprised of a mix of barley from three totally different biodynamic farms and aged over three years in a mixture of first fill, virgin, French, and Vin Doux naturel (candy wine) casks. It joins the Gaia natural line in what the distillery calls its Arcadian Sequence, meant to “showcase the flavours produced by forgotten methods of farming and uncommon barley varieties.” Let’s test it out.

The aroma, like numerous whiskies from Waterford, is shiny but elegant and considerably restrained. Youthful in its depth, there’s nonetheless a well-formed bouquet right here of wildflowers and honey candies, crunchy pear and unbaked oatmeal cookies. The palate is nice with an oily mouthfeel and simply approachable heat. Preliminary notes of darkish crimson fruits and clove-studded citrus lighten shortly to sweet apple and pear chips. The end showcases a little bit of peppery spice and fading notes of candy orange glaze and vanilla icing. This positively tastes “pure,” however I’m unsure significantly extra so than every other whisky.

100 proof.

B+ / $110 / waterfordwhisky.com 

Waterford Distillery Biodynamic Luna 1.1

$110

Ranking

8.5/10

About Put up Creator

Drew Beard

Drew Beard is Assistant Editor and Social Media Supervisor for Drinkhacker. He has studied and written about beer, whisk(e)y, and different spirits since he first began ingesting them, incomes a number of booze-related advantage badges alongside the best way, together with Licensed Specialist in Spirits and Govt Bourbon Steward. A recovering Federal authorities worker, he’s blissful to have lastly discovered a profession the place it’s acceptable to drink on the job.