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

Enter your email address for articles & updates & to hear about new Waterford Whiskies.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF MATURATION. BY ENTERING YOU NOT ONLY ACCEPT OUR INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE, BUT ALSO
THE USE OF COOKIES & INFORMATION COLLECTION TO ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Are you legally old enough
(and sufficiently curious)
to enjoy terroir-driven whisky?

Single Farm OriginRatheadon

Edition 1.1

Key Facts

EDITION 1.1
HARVESTED 11 AUGUST 2015
DISTILLED WEEK 25 2016
Maturation 3 years 9 months 5 days
ABV 50%
No. of Bottles 2,000
For Market Ireland
Bottled June 2020

RATHEADON, CO. CARLOW

An Bhearú, the “bubbling” River Barrow, which was mentioned by the ancient writer Ptolemy, winds through the limestone lowlands of County Carlow. Ratheadon, Aidhne’s Fort, once home to the Lords of Idrone, stands beyond the river’s east bank on rich & loamy soils. Ratheadon stands in the heartlands of the Irish malting barley industry. 

The echoes of this old trade can still be seen today – the keen-eyed would note the numerous majestic old malting house buildings that line the river –  indeed, were once powered by the river – with the largest malt house standing in Bagenalstown.

This early-sown barley from the superb harvest of 2015 was grown by father and son Stephen & Andrew McDonnell – third and fourth generation growers respectively – upon this unique terroir of a fertile flood plain of the River Barrow. The McDonnell family has farmed here at Ratheadon for some five decades.

This bottling, Edition 1.1, was originally intended to be an online and distillery exclusive. But at the time of launching Waterford Whisky into the world, demand greatly exceeded supply in many places – especially so in Ireland, on our home turf; so we took the decision to release 1,400 bottles to the Irish market only.

Barley Timeline

Product Timeline

SOWN 15 February 2015
HARVESTED 11 August 2015
Arrived at Cathedral 12 August 2015
Went to Maltings 7 May 2016
Arrived at Distillery 19 April 2016
Fermentation Started 10 May 2016
Distillation Started 14 May 2016
Distillation Finished 23 May 2016
Filled at Warehouse 25 May 2016
Marriage of Casks 6 February 2020
Sent for Bottling 2 June 2020

Head Distiller's Observations

Appearance: Amber to deep gold, the glass is coated with oils.

Nose: Barley, bread, earthy, orange peel, light vanilla, barnyard, berries (fruits of the forest), green leaves.

Taste: Creamy, bread crust, white pepper, soft spice, orange (reminds me of Jaffa cakes) and berries. A long-lasting orange, oily finish.

TERROIR

FIELDS

Grower Info

Grower
Farm
County
Type
Stephen & Andrew McDonnell
Ratheadon
Carlow
Conventional

Soil

Ratheadon-5
Series Ballinamore Association
Type Surface Water Gley
Description Fine, loamy drift, Ballinamore Association (Ballinamore, Straffan, Allen, Banagher, Roosky series)
Elevation 173 FEET
Sunlight AVERAGE 5-5.5 hours

Barley, Yeast & Water

VARIETY Irina
Yeast Mauri Distiller’s Yeast
Production Water Volcanic Aquifer
Fermentation 106 hours

The Sound of Ratheadon

This track starts out in the open in a field of young barley, then moves up along the edge of the farm where the wind blows through the trees and the animals on neighbouring farms can be heard. Then it’s up the hill to the highest point of the farm, where the wind blows through an old rusty gate and the overhanging briars scratch at it. Then, we move down the hill and along the River Barrow; it’s in full flow with the recent rain, the wind has died down and the birds are out with the sun.

Cask Composition

FIRST FILL U.S
35%
VIRGIN U.S.
20%
PREMIUM FRENCH
25%
VIN DOUX NATUREL
20%

Wood

You may also like

SUBSCRIBE

SUBSCRIBE TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT NEW WHISKIES

SOCIAL

Shopping in the USA?

Visit our dedicated whisky page here.

Shop now