WATERFORD WHISKY DISTILLERY MAKES HISTORY AS IT DISTILLS WORLD’S FIRST BIODYNAMIC IRISH WHISKY
March 2018 saw Waterford Distillery become the first distillery to create Irish whisky from biodynamic barley.
The innovative Irish distillery set an industry milestone in 2016 when it distilled Ireland’s first organic whisky. The new biodynamic distillation takes it to a whole new level, creating a significant first for the Irish drinks industry.
Biodynamic agriculture, ultimate organics, is the controversial agricultural principal outlined in 1924 by Austrian philosopher Dr Rudolf Steiner, the codified manual, the culmination of 10,000 years of farming know-how. To others it’s just folklore.
The concept involves a farm becoming self-sufficient for all its needs, relying on home-made organic fertilisers and naturally occurring plant insecticides.
As our forefathers knew, the astrological calendar not only predicts tides but guides planting, growing and harvesting. Preparations, unusual to us, such as “horn manure”, made from buried, manure-packed, cow horns, is super efficacious stimulating microbial activity in the soil, seed germination and root development, say adherents; barking mad, say critics.
Working closely with Minch Maltsters, the pioneering farmers that answered the call to grow the biodynamic barley were John McDonnell, Co. Meath; Alan Mooney, Kilcock, Co. Kildare; and Trevor Harris from Naas, Co. Kildare.
The distillery received the prestigious Demeter certification from the Biodynamic Association, which it holds alongside its existing certification from the Organic Trust.
Waterford Distillery CEO, Mark Reynier, said: “Biodynamics is a farming philosophy, a way of life. It’s fascinating to see the world’s greatest wine makers attracted to this time-consuming way of running their farms.
“It started with the fear of losing the accumulated knowledge of millennia to the march of the agrochemical industry last century. It’s about minimal treatments, ancient homeopathic remedies, natural fertilisers focused on enhancing the biodiversity of a naturally healthy soil.
“It all sounds pretty crazy, it’s easy to dismiss as cranky tree-hugging bunkum, but yet it’s funny how the greatest wines in the world are made under this unusual regime. Only natural we should give it a go for our whisky. As part of our extensive research we travelled Alsace, to see bioydynamics in action. So I wanted to extend my thanks to Olivier Humbrrecht and Jean Paul Zusslin – as well as to Trevor Harris, John McDonnell and Alan Mooney for rising to the challenge when I first raised the idea in 2015.”
Though biodynamic farming methods may appear eccentric, many of the greatest wine producers, including the legendary Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Romanee Conti, and Chateau Margaux, maintain biodynamic vineyards.
Head Brewer Neil Conway, added, “When Mark first mentioned the idea, we thought he was mad. We had to educate ourselves on what exactly biodynamic farming is and how biodynamically grown grain may effect the production process in the distillery. I’ve found biodynamics fascinating, particularly the preparations involved and understanding how they activate and mobilize different nutrients that the barley crop needs.
“The most satisfying part has been the openness of all the people involved in this project. It’s been a real team effort from the biodynamic growers, our maltsters and everyone at Waterford Distillery. We’re all learning from each other during this new chapter of malting, brewing and distilling.”
A new generation of consumers is taking ever-more interest in the provenance of their drinks – how and where the ingredients are grown – which is key to the Waterford philosophy. The distillery’s unparalleled production methods involve distilling barley from 61 individual Irish farms, one a week, in isolation from eld to barrel – with complete traceability.
Like no other distillery, by celebrating and exploring the differences in soil, location and microclimate, or terroir as it is known, and extolling the virtue of super-premium wood, both French and American oak, Waterford Distillery aims to create the world’s most profound – and natural – single malt whisky.
The special spirit distilled from biodynamic barley won’t be bottled for several years, but the distillery’s first whiskies are on the horizon.
Waterford Distillery does not source spirit from other producers to be used in its products.
NOTES :
Waterford Distillery is a major whisky project by Mark Reynier, the man behind the renaissance of Islay’s Bruichladdich single malt whisky.
We’re embarking on a long journey, a voyage as ambitious as it’s pioneering. The destination is to create not just the most compelling Irish whisky, but the world’s most profound single malt.
WATERFORD
We chose Waterford, for here on the banks of the river Suir, on Ireland’s sunny south-eastern coast, we have an exceptional state-of-the-art facility originally built by Diageo in 2004 and converted to distilling in 2015. And we have the nest quality raw materials: the purest of spring water from renowned ancient wells; a team of passionate distillers that share the vision; and the very best barley in the world.
BARLEY
The provenance of our barley, where and how it is cultivated, is therefore key. Taking proven principles from Islay a giant step further, we have sourced an unprecedented 61 Irish farms, some organically- run, growing barley on 19 distinct soil types. With a pioneering digital logistical system keeping track, each farmer’s crop is harvested, stored, malted and distilled separately. Thus we can capture in spirit each farm’s terroir, that subtle character shaped by micro-climate and soil. Individuality and integrity from eld to barrel.
PROVENANCE
The goal of this precision, provenance with total traceability, is to provide us with an unparalleled library of maturing, nascent single malt whisky as each farm’s barley is distilled, one per week throughout the year.
WHISKY
The first whisky ran in January 2016. After maturing for several years in the best of French and American oak, we believe these component “single”, single malts, each one exhibiting its own nuances, will come together making the most rofound single malt whisky ever created.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Web: waterforddistillery.ie
Email: press@waterforddistillery.ie Phone: +353 (0)51 303 508 Twitter: @WaterfordWhisky Facebook: @WaterfordDistillery Instagram: @WaterfordDistillery
KEY PEOPLE
CEO: Mark Reynier
Head Distiller: Ned Gahan
Head Brewer: Neil Conway Distillery Manager: Paul McCusker Chief Engineer: Anthony Brazil
SPECIAL THANKS
A special thank you to Minch Malt. It was Minch Malt’s agronomists and the Biodynamic farmers that delivered this unique product to Waterford Distillery.
