The Arcadian Series of alt-barley is where we champion those maverick growers whose inspirational ethos & way of life respects the land and the old ways in the pursuit of flavour over yield imperative. For the first time we dip into a new vintage: the 2016 organic harvest. Once again Gaia, neopagan goddess & a personification of Mother Earth herself, is our standard bearerfor the celebration of this vibrant new edition of Ireland’s only whisky to be distilled from organic Irish barley.

Appearance: Golden peach with super rich and thick oils on the glass.

Nose: Orange peel, fresh soil, bread crust, brown sugar, milk chocolate, fresh fruit salad, fig roll biscuits, lavender, sweet marshmallows, butter milk.

Taste: Spicy, white pepper, grapefruit, dry heat, liquorice, cherries, coco powder, wine gums, dry toast, salted peanuts, lemon zest.

Finish: A dry spice dance that tangos and waltz’s like a happy couple into the golden peach sunset.

On John Mallick’s farm at Garryhoe, a picturesque organic farm in Wicklow, the track starts out in a wooded area near last year’s barley fields. It’s a clear, windy day. The track takes us down the hill, over a stream, into a clearing then deeper into another woods. The wind rushes through the trees; the branches at the top of the firs clash. There’s something rather magical about the place. The birds are full of life as the track moves through the woods and back around towards the edge of the fields. Then, from here, it’s downhill to the bottom of the valley where the wind gusts through a wire fence. The Derry Water River ripples through the farm.