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Distilling Now : Ed Harpur
Distilling Now : Ed Harpur

Single Farm Origin

Ballymorgan

Edition 1.1

Key Facts

GROWER Robert Milne
FARM Ballymorgan
EDITION 1.1
HARVESTED 13 SEPTEMBER 2015
DISTILLED WEEK 22 2016
Maturation 3 years 10 months 23 days
ABV 50%
No. of Bottles 9,000
For Market Europe & Asia
Bottled July 2020

BALLYMORGAN, CO. WEXFORD

In the rain shadow of the Wicklow Mountains, the Slaney river winds its way southwards through County Wexford. Here Robert Milne exploits one of Ireland’s premier barley terroirs. Farming now with his son and nephew, five generations of his family have farmed these fertile fields with their loamy, clay soils derived from slate and granite, and where the famous Clonroche Series of soils dominates.

There’s something about the spirit derived from Robert’s barley in 2015. In our tastings at the distillery, we have been drawn to glass containing his whisky particularly frequently, and we’re delighted to share it with drinkers.

The Sound of Ballymorgan

A tractor arrives nearby. The driver gets out and strolls through a gate into the barley fields. It's a perfectly still day at first, busy with wildlife in the warm sunlight. We listen for a while and, as the wind picks up, we hear the barley rustling, and an old rusty gate coming to life in the breeze.

BARLEY TIMELINES

SOWN 7 April 2015
HARVESTED 13 September 2015
Arrived at Cathedral 14 September 2015
Went to Maltings 5 May 2016
Arrived at Distillery 19 May 2016
Fermentation Started 26 May 2016
Distillation Started 1 June 2016
Distillation Finished 4 June 2016
Filled at Warehouse 13 June 2016
Marriage of Casks 6 May 2020
Sent for Bottling 8 July 2020

The Distillers

James Ellickson Ian O'Brien Padraic Power Cian Dirrane

TERROIR

FIELDS
SOIL

CREDIT: TEAGASC.

series Clonroche Association
type Brown Earth
description Fine, loamy drift with siliceous stones, Clonroche Association (Clonroche, Ballylanders, Kilrush, Dunboyne, Kilpierce, Moord, Cupidstownhill, Glantane, Duarrigle, Knockroe series)
elevation 280-295 FEET
sunlight AVERAGE 6-6.5 hours

BARLEY, YEAST & WATER

VARIETY OVERTURE
Yeast Mauri Distiller's Yeast
Production Water Volcanic Aquifer
Fermentation 136 hours

Head Distiller's Observations

Appearance: Golden barley, with oils that slowly caress the glass.

Nose: Green apple, milk chocolate, malty, pears, dried fruits, rhubarb and custard – but with more custard than rhubarb.

Taste: Green apple coated in caramel, cloves, custard – a spicy tingle, with liquorice and mint chocolate.

Finish: A gentle heat lingers in your mouth and as it slowly fades; oiliness is left with a spicy chocolate.

WOOD

cask no. cask type cask fill cooperage fill date farm
3900 American First-Fill 201.1 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3901 American First-Fill 208.34 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3902 American First-Fill 199.3 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3903 American First-Fill 201.4 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3904 American First-Fill 203.02 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3905 American First-Fill 198.58 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3906 American First-Fill 202.93 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3895 American First-Fill 200.89 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3897 American First-Fill 201.38 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3899 American First-Fill 199.46 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
3899 American First-Fill 200.44 litres Jack Daniels Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
100 Premium French 221.57 litres Seguin Moreau 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
103 Premium French 222.36 litres Berthomieu 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
104 Premium French 224.98 litres Demptos 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2982 Premium French 225.5 litres Tonnellerie des Domaines 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2984 Premium French 226.66 litres Tonnellerie des Domaines 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2985 Premium French 227.56 litres Tonnellerie des Domaines 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2986 Premium French 227.41 litres Tonnellerie des Domaines 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
1571 Vin Doux Naturel 499.89 litres Oloroso 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
1572 Vin Doux Naturel 505.86 litres Oloroso 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2386 American Virgin 202.46 litres Speyside Cooperage, KY 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2387 American Virgin 202.54 litres Speyside Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2388 American Virgin 202.9 litres Speyside Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2389 American Virgin 202.05 litres Speyside Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN
2493 American Virgin 204.08 litres Speyside Cooperage 13 June 2016 BALLYMORGAN

Composition

37% FIRST FILL U.S
18% VIRGIN U.S.
27% PREMIUM FRENCH
18% VIN DOUX NATUREL