AN ALL-NEW TRIO OF CUVÉES FOR OUR U.S. EXPANSION

August 29, 2023 | article | 5 minute read

Our terroir-driven ethos, based on precision of place, has now evolved deeper into our cúvee concepts, which further showcase Head Distiller Ned’s creativity.

We’ve news for our friends in the United States that we’ve been looking forward to sharing for some time. Our presence is about to increase, markedly, as part of a new distribution expansion with major new partners including the likes of Breakthru Beverages, Johnson Brothers, and Fredrick Wildman. So from this autumn there will be far greater availability of Waterford Whisky across the country. The question we’re often asked — ‘where and how can I get hold of bottles?’ — is about to become far, far easier to answer.

A major new expansion requires some major new whiskies to celebrate, and they are true apogees of our terroir-driven philosophies. These will be available on an ongoing basis.

The Waterford Cuvée (“Koffi”)

Organic Cuvée — Gaia

Peated Cuvée — Fumo

Presenting: Peated Cuvée — Fumo; Organic Cuvée — Gaia; & our ultimate: The Waterford Cuvée (“Koffi”)

Cuvée Concepts (the word ‘cuvée literally means assemblages) are the veritable raison d’être of our whole project. By separately harvesting, distilling and maturing individual terroirs, individual farms — unique expressions of place and vintage — we create the ultimate library of Waterford Whisky single malts.

Like winemakers at the greatest Bordeaux châteaux or Champagne houses, Head Distiller Ned can then layer these individual building blocks into the most complex possible single malts. The full orchestra, rather than a single instrument. This methodology underpins every one of these groundbreaking new releases.

Indeed, it has always been our aim to go deeper into the world of cuvées, evolving out from precision of place to complexity from creativity. It makes sense to do this first in the U.S. – but those elsewhere won’t need to wait too long, we hope.

Our Peated Cuvée, which we call “Fumo”, features single malt from each of the peated single farms and vintages we’ve bottled to date, including the new Peated Single Farm Origins of Lacken and Woodbrook.

Our Organic stalwart, “Gaia”, is now an assemblage of organic whiskies from various vintages and origins, and is therefore elevated to an Organic Cuvée — it is the deepest and most complex organic whisky we’ve released to date, and already a firm favourite with the team at the distillery.

Finally The Waterford Cuvée, nicknamed “Koffi”, after Mr Nathanaël Koffi, who was responsible for its label’s remarkable artwork. Now we are six, The Cuvée which we released in 2021 was ready for an upgrade. And since the USA has run out of our 2021 edition, they get first dibs on “Koffi” — our oldest whisky to date, layered from 24 Irish Single Farm Origins, each individually harvested, distilled, and matured in its own right, and all of which are over six years old.

All of them will be bottled at 50% ABV, and as with every Waterford Whisky free from colouring and chill-filtration. Totally natural whisky.

ROLLING OUT THIS AUTUMN

These are major new Cuvée Concepts, not limited in any way, and they’ll be rolling out state by state across the USA throughout the Autumn as part of our exciting new distribution expansion. In fact, they’ll accompany our current releases such as the Single Farm Origins of Dunmore, Dunbell and Rathclogh, not to forget Biodynamic Luna.

Though drinkers in Europe will not have to wait too long to enjoy The Waterford Cuvée (“Koffi”) themselves; look out for a Springtime announcement on that front. We might even introduce the other couple of cuvées later in the year.

Collectively they represent a major step forward for our intentions and philosophies: the very purpose for which we undertook the huge logistical challenge of farm-by-farm distillation. Beguiling whiskies, they are as always to compare and contrast; for discussion late into the night.

Having spent years assembling our library of terroir and vintage-driven single malts, we are finally able to create the diverse array of complex cuvées to which we have always aspired: the most profound single malt whiskies ever made.

We’re very pleased that the timing has coincided so neatly with this major distribution expansion in the USA. What could be better, after all, than sharing unprecedented, terroir-driven whiskies with an unprecedented new audience of like-minded curious drinkers.

Christmas Orders

Are you curious about the origins of Whisky's natural flavour?

Presenting: Peated Cuvée — Fumo; Organic Cuvée — Gaia; & our ultimate: The Waterford Cuvée (“Koffi”)

ROLLING OUT THIS AUTUMN