15
Expressions
15
With Tasting Notes
100%
Completeness
About
Terroir-focused distillery founded by Mark Reynier (former Bruichladdich owner) in a former Guinness brewery. Tracks every barley harvest from individual Irish farms to prove terroir in whisky. Uses a unique barley-tracing digital system. Releases are named by farm origin (single farm origin bottlings). A radical, data-driven approach to Irish single malt.
Production Details
Owner
Waterford Distillery
Parent Company
Missing
Status
Active
Founded
2015
Still Type
Pot
Stills
4
Capacity
3.0M LPA
Water Source
Comeragh Mountains spring water
Core Range5
Waterford Biodynamic Cuvée LunaCore
NAS50% ABV2024$100-120
37% first-fill US oak, 17% virgin US oak, 25% premium French oak, 21% Vin Doux Naturel — Demeter-certified biodynamic barley
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Apricot gold with oils that are in no rush; rich legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Plums, apricot jam, fresh fruit salad, cold coffee, lemon drizzle cake, milk chocolate with almonds, fresh soil, bread proofing, brown sugar, herbal tea, hay on the ground after a shower of rain
Sip
Spice on every level — front, middle, back. White pepper, cloves, green peppers, jalapenos, dark chocolate, liquorice, malted biscuits, and peppermint tea, grapefruit. A flagship cuvée of multiple biodynamic farm distillations layered mille-feuille style
Savor
Long finish with persistent spice, dark chocolate, and earthy depth. The biodynamic barley from six partner growers creates a complex, layered expression. The most ambitious Waterford Cuvée
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Greengrocer: Orchard (plum, apricot), Citrus (lemon, grapefruit); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, brown sugar; Bakery: Sweet (lemon drizzle cake, malted biscuits, bread proofing); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper, cloves, jalapeno, green pepper); Garden Path: Herbs (herbal tea, peppermint, hay); Pub/Bar: Coffee (cold coffee); Library: Soil (fresh soil, earth)
Waterford Cuvée ArgotCore
NAS47% ABV2023$55-65
37% first-fill US oak, 19% virgin US oak, 19% premium French oak, 23% Vin Doux Naturel
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Orange peel, almonds, stewed apple, bread crust, green foliage, mixed berries, fennel, and white chocolate. Hint of Irish peat adds a subtle smoky nuance
Sip
White pepper and bell pepper evolve into crunchy granola, acidic grapefruit, nuances of smoked barbecue. Banana milkshake and green apple peel. An approachable entry to Waterford's terroir philosophy
Savor
Medium finish with dried bell pepper, lingering barley sugar, and gentle warmth. The peat whisper fades last. Clean and balanced
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Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, stewed apple), Citrus (orange peel, grapefruit); Bakery: Sweet (bread crust, granola, barley sugar); Sweet Shop: white chocolate, almonds; Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper, bell pepper); Garden Path: Herbs (fennel, green foliage); Smoke House: Peat (subtle hint)
Waterford Cuvée Fumo (Peated)Core
NAS50% ABV202355 PPM$90-100
First-fill American oak, virgin American oak, French oak, Vin Doux Naturel — peated at 55 ppm with Irish peat
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light amber with natural color; medium-heavy legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Rich shiitake mushroom, toasted marshmallow, burnt caramel, figgy pudding, and a hint of vanilla. Irish peat smoke weaves through with a softer, earthier character than Islay peat
Sip
Dark chocolate, strawberries, toasted oak, maraschino cherries, vanilla, and subtle spice. The Irish peat delivers an earthy, mossy smoke rather than the medicinal or tarry character of Scottish peated malts. Sweet and smoky in balance
Savor
Medium-long finish, smoky and sweet, holding in a subtle but noticeable way before fading. Irish peat character — soft, vegetal, earthy — distinguishes this from any Scottish peated expression in the dataset
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Smoke House: Peat (Irish — earthy, mossy, vegetal, 55 ppm); Sweet Shop: dark chocolate, vanilla, toasted marshmallow, burnt caramel; Greengrocer: Vine (strawberry, maraschino cherry); Bakery: Sweet (figgy pudding); Natural Foods: Fungi (shiitake mushroom)
Waterford Cuvée KoffiCore
NAS50% ABV2023$85-95
First-fill American oak, virgin American oak, French oak, Vin Doux Naturel
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Rich and pure — bread, caramel, honey, peach, and heather. An earthy, pastoral quality underneath the sweetness
Sip
Honey and earthiness on the initial palate, joined by slight spice, caramel, baked bread, edible flowers, apricot pie, and vanilla. Pure barley expression with minimal cask interference
Savor
Medium finish with gentle warmth, fading honey, and a lingering earthiness. Clean grain character persists. The non-peated counterpart to Fumo, showcasing pure terroir
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Bakery: Sweet (baked bread, pastry); Sweet Shop: caramel, honey, vanilla; Greengrocer: Orchard (peach, apricot); Garden Path: Floral (heather, edible flowers); Natural Foods: Spices (gentle spice)
Waterford The CuvéeCore
NAS (4-5.5 years)50% ABV2021$75-100
First-fill American oak, virgin American oak, French oak, Vin Doux Naturel
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Pastry cream, darkly toasted bread, cracked black pepper, dried apricots. Grassy-green aromas — kiwi, tomatillo, cut grass, tomato leaf. Roasty undertone with a touch of meatiness
Sip
Full, rich, oily, and salty. Toasted bread, buttery oatmeal, dark honey, and marmalade. Barley-forward with grain character leading over cask influence. Complex terroir expression from 25 different Irish farms
Savor
Medium finish with citric tartness, warm hay, and a slight industrial cast. Peanut notes from young malt. The grain character persists through the finish — terroir over maturation
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Bakery: Sweet (toasted bread, oatmeal, pastry cream); Greengrocer: Orchard (dried apricot), Tropical (kiwi), Citrus (marmalade); Sweet Shop: dark honey; Natural Foods: Spices (black pepper); Garden Path: Herbs (grass, tomato leaf)
Limited / Special Releases10
Waterford Ballykilcavan Edition 1.1
NAS (3 years, 11 months)50% ABV2020$70-90
45% first-fill American oak, 37% French oak, 18% Vin Doux Naturel — Taberna barley from Co. Laois
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Caramel fudge, fresh pears and red grapes, vanilla, lemons, freshly cut grass, hints of limestone. Barley-forward with the agricultural character of Co. Laois terroir
Sip
Caramel fudge and milk chocolate, lemons, minerals, vanilla, green grapes, grassy notes of fresh grass mixed with hay, and white pepper. The Laois terroir delivers a cleaner, more mineral-driven profile than the coastal farms
Savor
Medium finish with minerals, white pepper, and lingering vanilla sweetness. The limestone-rich soil of Co. Laois is expressed as a chalky minerality through the finish
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Greengrocer: Orchard (pear), Citrus (lemon), Vine (red grape, green grape); Sweet Shop: caramel fudge, milk chocolate, vanilla; Garden Path: Grass (fresh grass, hay); Library: Mineral (limestone, chalk, minerals); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper)
Waterford Bannow Island Edition 1.1
NAS (4 years)50% ABV2020$70-90
First-fill American oak, French oak, Vin Doux Naturel — Overture barley from Bannow Island, Co. Wexford
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Floral and spicy French oak character with fresh lemons and mineral/earthy notes. Sweet peach and sharp nectarine, marshmallow and candy floss developing. Sharp apple, damp grain, and a hint of sea breeze from the coastal Bannow Island terroir
Sip
Oily mouthfeel with spicy arrival — white pepper, ginger, cloves. Subtle tropical fruits and caramel sweetness. Caramel fudge and milk chocolate, lemons, then minerals, vanilla, green grapes, fresh grass mixed with hay
Savor
Dry and medium finish ending on syrupy sweetness. Minerals, white pepper, and caramel linger. The coastal terroir of Bannow Island expresses as a subtle maritime minerality
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Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, peach, nectarine), Citrus (lemon), Vine (green grape); Sweet Shop: caramel fudge, marshmallow, candy floss, milk chocolate, vanilla; Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper, ginger, cloves); Walk to Lighthouse: Sea (sea breeze, maritime mineral); Garden Path: Grass (fresh grass, hay); Library: Mineral (mineral, damp grain)
Waterford Biodynamic Luna 1.1
NAS (3-4 years)50% ABV2021$110-130
First-fill American oak, virgin American oak, French oak, Vin Doux Naturel — biodynamic barley
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Floral fruit basket — apricots, underripe pineapple, lemon, and a green agave-like element. Honey and draff. Estery, high-toned, brandy-like aromas with pomegranate, red cherry, Comice pears, white flowers, butterscotch baking chips, and porridge
Sip
Punchy with rye-like sharpness, mingling with dough, white pepper, lime, and unripe pear. Red fruit — maraschino cherry and currants — followed by nougat, almond croissant, cinnamon, white grapes. Oily mouthfeel. Candy apple and pear chips. Young but characterful with a green, raw edge
Savor
Long finish with virgin oak spice, green fruits, lemon peel, and a hint of clove. Peppery spice and fading sweet orange glaze and vanilla icing. The biodynamic barley arguably adds an extra layer of floral complexity
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Greengrocer: Orchard (pear, apricot, apple), Citrus (lemon, lime, orange), Vine (cherry, currant, pomegranate), Tropical (pineapple); Sweet Shop: nougat, butterscotch, vanilla; Bakery: Sweet (almond croissant, dough, porridge); Garden Path: Floral (white flowers); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper, cinnamon, clove)
Waterford Dunbell Edition 1.1
NAS (3 years, 8 months)50% ABV2020$70-90
33% first-fill American oak, 22% virgin American oak, 26% premium French oak, 19% Vin Doux Naturel
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Dry malt, minerality, dried orchard fruit, buttercream frosting, candy shop quality, tropical fruit candy. Cherries, toasted malt, salted caramel, menthol, green apple pie
Sip
Candied apple, warm spices, pepper, orange peel, apricots, cloves, ginger nut biscuits. Ripe stone fruits with caramel, honey, baking spices, and black pepper. Surprisingly deep for under four years old. Burly 50% ABV gives excellent mouthfeel
Savor
Warm and dry spices linger on the tongue. The richness and complexity brought to a crisp and delicate close with dry spice. Impressive depth and character for its youth
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Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, apricot, stone fruit, cherry), Citrus (orange peel), Tropical (tropical fruit candy); Sweet Shop: salted caramel, buttercream, candy, honey; Bakery: Sweet (ginger nut biscuits, green apple pie, toasted malt); Natural Foods: Spices (black pepper, cloves, warm spices, menthol)
Waterford Dunmore Edition 1.1
NAS (3 years, 11 months)50% ABV2020$70-90
First-fill American oak, French oak, Vin Doux Naturel
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Malty, raisins, orange chocolate, black peppercorns, citrus fruits, red currants. Light cinnamon porridge quality, waxiness, and a dominant buttery character that balances the earthier and fruitier notes
Sip
Buttery and waxy mouthfeel. Orange chocolate, citrus fruits, and dried fruits dominate. Like eating a light cinnamon porridge while sitting in a worn leather chair. Earthy and complex for its young age
Savor
Medium-long finish with spice, dried fruit, and persistent butteriness. The waxiness carries through the finish — a textural signature unique among the Waterford SFOs
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Greengrocer: Orchard (raisins), Citrus (orange, citrus fruits), Vine (red currants); Sweet Shop: orange chocolate; Bakery: Sweet (cinnamon porridge); Natural Foods: Spices (black pepper, cinnamon); Furniture Maker: Leather (worn leather); Library: Wax (waxiness)
Waterford Grattansbrook Edition 1.1
NAS (3 years, 10 months)50% ABV2021$70-90
35% first-fill American oak, 16% virgin oak, 24% French oak, 25% Vin Doux Naturel
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Malty character with freshly baked bread, barley sugar, green grapes and apples. Hints of honey, vanilla, and fresh lemon juice. Clean and bakery-forward
Sip
Sweet and grainy with a malty backbone. Barley sugar, green apples, and lemon with vanilla and honey sweetness. The UK-exclusive SFO that emphasizes the baking/malt qualities of Irish barley terroir
Savor
Medium finish with barley sugar sweetness and gentle lemon fade. Clean and malty — a benchmark for Waterford's grain-forward terroir philosophy
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Bakery: Sweet (freshly baked bread, barley sugar, malt); Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, green grape), Citrus (lemon); Sweet Shop: honey, vanilla
Waterford Heritage Hunter 1.1
NAS (3 years)50% ABV2022$95-110
45% first-fill US oak, 19% virgin US oak, 21% premium French oak, 15% Vin Doux Naturel — heritage Hunter barley (1959 variety)
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Light gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Earthy and distinctive — dry soil, lemon sherbet, red apple skin, dry bark, barnyard, petrichor, rolled barley, baked salt, chalk. Big butterscotch and apple with strong but pleasant earthiness
Sip
Orange cake, dry savory spice, cloves, porridge with prunes, wood char, citrus oils. Heritage Hunter barley (resurrected 1959 strain named after Dr. Herbert Hunter) delivers a distinctly earthy, barnyard character unique in the dataset
Savor
Dry, green finish with gentle spice. The terroir signature of this rare heritage barley variety is unmistakable — earthier and more mineral than any other Waterford expression
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Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, prune), Citrus (lemon sherbet, orange, citrus oils); Bakery: Sweet (orange cake, porridge, rolled barley); Natural Foods: Spices (cloves, savory spice); Library: Earth/Mineral (dry soil, barnyard, petrichor, chalk, baked salt); Furniture Maker: Wood (dry bark, wood char)
Waterford Rathclogh Edition 1.1
NAS (3 years)50% ABV2020$70-90
First-fill American oak, French oak, Vin Doux Naturel — gravel soil terroir
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Like Irish barley fields — bright and earthy with dewy notes of straw and clay. Bright citrus with saltwater taffy sweetness. Agricultural and pastoral
Sip
Immediately big and sweet with green, grassy notes dominating. The gravel soil terroir of Rathclogh delivers the most overtly agricultural profile in the SFO range — you can taste the field. Barley-forward with mineral depth
Savor
Medium finish with green, grassy fade and mineral persistence. The most terroir-expressive of the original Edition 1.1 releases — the gravel soil signature is unmistakable
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Garden Path: Grass (straw, green grass, barley field); Library: Earth/Mineral (clay, gravel, mineral); Sweet Shop: saltwater taffy; Greengrocer: Citrus (bright citrus)
Waterford Ratheadon Edition 1.1
NAS (3 years, 9 months)50% ABV2020$70-90
35% first-fill American oak, 20% virgin oak, 25% French oak, 20% Vin Doux Naturel — Irina barley from Co. Carlow
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Caramel fudge, fresh pears and red grapes. Sweet grains with fruity notes — lemons, oranges, gooseberry, hint of mango. Malty notes, grain biscuits
Sip
Plenty of orchard fruit with light tropical touches. Apples, oranges, pink grapefruit. Then more malty — grain biscuits, pepper, and nutmeg. The Co. Carlow terroir delivers a fruit-forward, approachable profile
Savor
Medium finish with malty sweetness, pepper, and gentle fruit fade. The Irina barley from Carlow's rich agricultural land gives a sweeter, softer expression than the coastal farms
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Greengrocer: Orchard (apple, pear), Citrus (lemon, orange, grapefruit), Tropical (mango, gooseberry); Sweet Shop: caramel fudge; Bakery: Sweet (grain biscuits, malt); Natural Foods: Spices (pepper, nutmeg)
Waterford Sheestown Edition 1.1
NAS50% ABV2020$70-90
French oak, American oak — barley from near Kilkenny
4/4 Tasting
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Sight
Pale gold with natural color; medium legs, non-chill filtered
Smell
Fresh and clean — lavender, earth after rain (petrichor), honeycomb. The Kilkenny terroir delivers a more floral, aromatic profile than the southeastern coastal farms
Sip
Creamy texture with malt sweetness blending with licorice, pears, and porridge. Balanced and approachable. The medieval Kilkenny terroir produces a gentle, pastoral expression
Savor
Medium finish with subtle white peppers, mint chocolate, and toasted crackers. Clean and elegant — among the most refined of the Edition 1.1 releases
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Garden Path: Floral (lavender), Herbs (petrichor, earth after rain); Sweet Shop: honeycomb, mint chocolate, licorice; Greengrocer: Orchard (pear); Bakery: Sweet (porridge, toasted crackers); Natural Foods: Spices (white pepper)