Waterford – Arcadian Organic Series: Gaia 1.1 (70cl, 50%)

Gaia 1.1 is an Irish single malt from Waterford's Arcadian Series, which celebrates traditional grain varieties and unusual farming methods. It is made from barley grown entirely in Ireland by six farmers, and it was the first Irish whiskey certified organic by the Organic Trust. The name comes from Gaia, the Greek personification of the earth. The whisky matured in first-fill American casks (42%), virgin oak (17%), French oak (23%) and Vin Doux Naturel casks (18%). It was bottled at 50% ABV, non-chill-filtered and in natural colour, in an edition of 24,000 bottles. The nose is cereal and honey with vanilla and orange peel. The palate is creamy and oily, with clove and pepper, and the finish is sweet with port-poached pears.