Waterford Knockroe 1.1, Single Farm Origin

East of the River Barrow, Kenneth Ashmore’s rolling lowland farm, Knockroe – An Cnoc Rua, Red Hill – stands on the Bo Choill Road east of Maganey, which runs towards the old town of Castledermot. In an ancient landscape scattered with Bronze Age remnants, the well-drained and quick-drying sandy loams, derived from limestone, make for good tilling in the early spring and ideal for a long barley-growing season.

Colour:  A yellow gold with oily legs that grip the glass like a free mountain climber.

Nose:  Dried flowers with fern and sage, dry hay, warm lavender, buttery, dried tea , porridge, milk chocolate, toasted bread, grapefruit, cloves, fudge and ripe banana.

Palate:  Cloves, black pepper, ginger, custard, tobacco, malty, soft spices, citrus peel, blood orange, dark chocolate and lemon posset.

Finish:  A gentle oily spice that leaves a hint of ginger and lemon.