WaterfordOrganicGaia1.1(700mL)

<p>A lovely new-style, organic Irish Whiskey from a Spirit Industry legend lets you taste the amber waves of grain.</p><p><em>Mark Reynier</em> is one of the few living legends of both Whisky and Whiskey. He’s worked in <em>Wine & Spirits </em>since 1980. In 1996 he was a co-founder of independent bottler <em>Murray David. </em>In 2000 they purchased the dormant <em>Bruichladdich Distillery </em>and as CEO Mark returned it to unquestioned greatness. In 2012 the founders and investors voted to sell both operations to <em>Rémy Cointreau Group</em> — Mark was the lone dissenting vote. And while he might have taken his share of the millions and retired in comfort, he immediately turned around and purchased a facility from Diageo in Waterford, Ireland, and began distilling in 2015. This is his new passion — <em>The Waterford Distillery. </em>Here he and his team produce a range of fine Irish Whiskies.</p><p><em>Waterford Organic Gaia 1.1 </em>is the first release in their new Arcadian Series. It is the first Irish Whisky certified organic by the <em>Organic Trust.</em> And that commitment begins on the farm with six local farmers providing the barley. Organic farming has a lower yield, but allows the terroir<em> to be present in the Spirit.</em> The barley is malted on site, fermented and distilled in their <em>new copper-pot facility. </em>Then the Spirit is aged in 42% first-fill Bourbon casks, 17% virgin American oak, 18% Vin Doux Naturel Wine casks, and 23% French oak for three years, nine months, and twenty days. The combination is astounding on the palate at <em>50%</em> ABV with no additives nor chill-filtration.</p><p><u>Smartass Corner:</u><em>“Gaia” is the name for the “Mother Earth Goddess” in Greek Mythology. This makes it a spot-on name for an organic Whiskey, don’t you think?</em></p>