Tipperary
*2017 LA Spirits Competition – Knockmealdowns – Gold Medal- 90 points
WoW 2017 Silver Outstanding in the category of Malt Unpeated
Watershed
“Watershed” is the first whiskey to be cut to 47% with water from Ballindoney farm in Tipperary.
The land at Ballindoney has been farmed by our co-founding family, the Ahearns, for as long back as parish records are available (over 200 years). Lying in Ireland’s Golden Vale, the farmland is fresh and green in spring, maturing to glorious golds as crops ripen for harvest.
The farm lies on a plain of land sheltered by the Galtee, Knockmealdown and Comeragh mountains, with fresh water flowing down to be collected and used to cut our Watershed whiskey.
Only six first-fill bourbon casks are chosen for each batch of Watershed, carefully selected for quality by our Malt Master, Stuart Nickerson. After being cut to 47% with our Ballindoney water, we number every bottle individually, so each one is special.
Try Watershed, and taste Tipperary.
TASTING NOTES
The nose opens with strong vanilla and sweet fruit notes, followed by hints of grain.
Black pepper rises on the palate, overtaken by vanilla fudge and just a trace of raisins.
The smooth finish is warm and comforting, honey on hot buttered toast.
The Knockmealdowns
Mountain Range is our series of older whiskies, celebrating the land in County Tipperary.
The first of our Limited Edition Mountain Range, “The Knockmealdowns” is created from only 6 casks, matured in Ireland for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels. The whiskey is cut to 47% with water from Ballindoney farm in Tipperary, owned by our co-founding family, the Ahearns.
Our Knockmealdowns whiskey honours the Knockmealdown mountain range, which straddles the border between County Tipperary and Waterford. The highest peak, the Knockmealdown, stands at 2,605 feet and looks down from the south over the plain of land on which Ballindoney farm lies.
A particularly picturesque area, the Knockmealdown mountains are home to the “Vee”, a V-shaped turn on the road up Sugarloaf hill. This is one of the most scenic locations in Ireland, and on a clear day you can look out over 3 counties: Tipperary, Waterford and Limerick.
As is true of much of Ireland, this area has many tales about the mysterious happenings of the past. A number of these stories relate to a stunningly beautiful lake close to the Vee called Bay Lough. Local legend tells that the lake is bottomless, and the waters are haunted by an unfortunate woman, “Petticoat Loose”, who was banished here to empty the lake with a thimble.
Why not visit Tipperary and see the Knockmealdowns for yourself. Just watch out for Petticoat Loose.
TASTING NOTES
The nose opens with fresh oak, developing into hot caramel sauce with notes of chocolate and vanilla.
The palate is smooth and light, sweet honey cut through with citrus notes, then becoming savoury, peppery and round in the mouth.
The finish lingers, oak with drying tannins and just a touch of ginger spice.
