Irish Terroir With Ned Gahan From Waterford Whisky

Cocktails Distilled

For many, the process of creating an outstanding whisky is akin to a religious experience. And that could easily be the analogy you use when describing the processes put in place by Waterford Distillery in Ireland.

Although Single Malts are best known from the Scottish side of the industry, Ireland has been producing outstanding examples for centuries.

Laying down their first liquid in 2015, Waterford may be a newcomer to the field but they believe the unwavering level of craftsmanship they bring to the whiskey will speak for itself

To find out more, we talk to Head Distiller, Ned Gahan about the nuances of terroir, traceability and transparency.

Capíttulos

1. Irish Terroir With Ned Gahan From Waterford Whisky (00:00:00)

2. Now, I suppose we should start off by saying that you don't make crystal, as the name might suggest. (00:01:32)

3. Now, you guys talk about bringing a winemaker's methodology and rigor to the barley that you use. What exactly does that mean? (00:01:57)

4. A lot of people would argue that it's actually the barrel, rather than the grain, that gives whiskey its flavour. (00:03:39)

5. Although, if you're using such good quality casks, won't they overwhelm any terroir that was in the grain anyway? (00:10:26)

6. Now, if you are keeping the grains separated, would most people be able to taste the different terroir from each of these farms, in different expressions that you produce, do you think? (00:12:00)

7. Do you think that the way that you are approaching barley will change the attitudes in the industry to the concepts of terroir? (00:14:05)

8. Once you have the grain, you are putting it into your grain Cathedral, as you mentioned earlier. Do you want to tell us a little bit more about that? (00:16:36)

9. Now, what we should probably talk about is your three types of expressions. So you have your Single Farm origin, your Arcadian series, and your cuvees. Do you want to tell us a little bit more about each of those three? (00:19:23)

10. When you got into distilling, did you ever think that you were going to know so much about barley? (00:30:51)

11. Are you finding that the interest is in what you are doing, or the interest is in more the fact that you just are Irish? (00:32:27)

12. Now, being a single malt, I imagine that you would say mixing it into a cocktail would be absolute heresy. So how do you want people to experience it? (00:34:36)

13. Now, before we finish up, we missed cuvee. So, if we can just quickly talk about that. (00:35:42)

14. What is it that you want people to take away from their experience with Waterfords? (00:37:38)