Nestled in the charming Ballyduff Village in West Waterford, Blackwater Distillery is located in one of Ireland's hidden gems – the Blackwater Region.
The distillery name is inspired by the majestic Blackwater River. Known in Irish as ‘An Abhainn Mhor,’ meaning ‘The Big River,’ the Blackwater is indeed a mighty waterway. Often referred to as the Munster Blackwater, this significant river originates at the Cork/Kerry border, meandering due east into Waterford and flowing gracefully past our distillery in Ballyduff before contining its journey into the sea at Youghal (did Ronan tell you he did an IronMan there?).
The Blackwater River is renowned globally as a premier salmon river. However, its history runs deep, with its dark waters once serving as a vital artery of commerce for hundreds of years. Today, the legacy of the Blackwater River continues to inspire and influence the spirit of Blackwater Distillery.
Now the whiskey itself is a story indeed. A major part in Redacted Whiskey choosing Blackwater as our next release was down to how to did things, true to them.
Embracing Seasonal Craftsmanship
At Blackwater Distillery, the honour the natural rhythm of the seasons in their whiskey making process. They believe the mash tun, affectionately named Sheela na Gig, is the heart of their operation. It’s here that the magic begins, extracting sugars from the grain. With a fermentation process run intentionally long and slow, adapting to seasonal variations and taking as much time as needed, even if it exceeds 100 hours.
Preserving Grain Character & Flavour
The Blackwater distilling philosophy prioritise flavour over mere alcohol extraction. The aim is to preserve the rich character of the grain by double distilling and collecting at around 71% alcohol. This results in fewer alcohols and more congeners, which translates to a richer flavour profile crafted for complexity and depth.
Aging to Perfection
This process leaves them with a robust, fatty, and oily new make spirit which is stored in a dark, airy warehouse by the sea, allowing the liquid to develops its unique characteristics over time.
A Commitment to Flavour
Flavour is at the core of everything they do at Blackwater Distillery. They source 100% Irish grown grain which is then used in diverse mash bills includes not just barley and malt, but also rye, oats, and wheat. This results in a sticky mash with lower yields, but we believe the exceptional flavours are worth it.
At Redacted Whiskey we believe that each of these steps taken craft a fantastic new spirit and Irish Whiskey. If you want to try something new and unique but seeped in heritage check out Bottle 002.
