What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2)

I think I liked everything from waterford I drank and loved some of it. Business model was never conducive to maximum profit. Wonder who buys all the stock. All of it sloshed together, brought down to 40%, coloured and Banged out to recoup as much as possible

Looks very flat alright, mine had a good head

I'm surprised at Waterford. You'd think that that amount of laid down stock alone would keep the company afloat? (pun intended).

7.7m€ debt with 40.1m€ stock doesn't seem too unhealthy to me. Though, I guess, they'd need more than 3m€ sales pa to turn things around.

They actually released very little this year compared to other years.

I think a few things happened, going to big to early one of them. They were constantly in Asia, Europe and america promoting their spirits which must be a costly outlay. You then have young whiskey competing with older and more developed spirit and the price point can be very similiar.

I can see them surviving, but in a much changed format or at least i hope they survive because i think its a fascinating project but i think they are going to have to reign in the overheads massively. 3million in sales and 7million costs / debt for the year is a huge difference. Compare websites to the Dingle one and the spend must be 5 times as much.

Even the cost of entry level whiskey is high, there wasnt anything sub €50. I think the cheapest bottle ever was closer to €80.

Maybe like dingle they should have started making a Gin and Vodka as well in the short term to help cashflow.

Waterford has the look and feel of a long established major player but its volumes, market penetration and spirit are all a few years behind someone like Dingle.

I hope they find a way out, the stock they have must include some incredible spirit. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of their staff and they are excellent. You really feel for them especially at this time of year. Fingers crossed.

I was in Waterford Distillery in August and we tasted 5 and 6 year old spirit which was really excellent. The most recent release, Goldthorpe, is really good but at €100 it's competing against some big hitters.

I don't think sales ever reached a volume that was sustainable and saturating the market with young releases initially certainly didn't help.

Hopefully someone sees value in taking it over but I wouldn't be hopeful.

Whatever about that, they had the worst marketing total BS I've ever heard in my life. Not surprised.

Sad about Waterford. It being local I've developed a little Christmas ritual of going down the distillery itself and treating myself to a bottle. I've really enjoyed the ones I've had, albeit priced at a premium for young spirit.

I was never entirely sure about the terroir concept where whisk(e)y is concerned. I get it as regards wine which remains in much closer contact with the raw material throughout the process, but not sure how much would survive the distillation. The bottlings I've tasted were very distinct however and I was looking forward to trying some of the older spirit as mentioned by @Lester_Burnham

It's a shame for the farmers supplying them. A friend of mine knows a few of them and it was a great value added destination for their crops.

Is the distillery still open for visits I wonder. I'd love to see it, in case it does closes it's doors.
I passed it last year, around this time of year, but just didn't have the time to visit on the day.

To bypass the McGregor and Waterford drama I’d say get straight down to Aldi as Janie Jones has said and pick up an Ardfallen 10 for €29.99.Its far better than anything under €30 should be .Im not a grain fan but the Moscatel casked Grain is singing up a symphony in this must have whiskey.I would t go so far as to rank it with the €70++++5-6+ years ago Brabazon but I’m a Sherry bomb fan and I really like this sub €30 bargain .The Boann sounds like a tempting sub €70 Christmas special too though .

I doubt it. There's a notice on the website that all retail sales are suspended. It was on my bucket list of things to do in the next short while with a few mates.

Is Velvet Cap Waterford? Bought a 3 bottle pack and all 3 are awful. Also bought Achill Islands 2023 distillate which I presume is their own as thats what it says on the box "Irelands first Island distillery", not great either but maybe need to go back to it

If it's branded Achill it's their own product.
If sourced, branded as Irish American.
At least that's the claim.

I think this got ok reviews? Which one did you try?
https://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/achill-island-single-malt-bordeaux-cask-finish

Although I stupidly bought 2, one to drink one to keep as I thought it was first cask, obviously isnt. Nothing they said just my own inability to read

Well it did come in a fancy plastic box :) Yeah it was, I'm from Mayo so was trying to support local, (have 2 bottles of Connachts first cask) but in hindsight it was a waste of money