You’d never confuse Waterford Luna 1.1 with bourbon. Youthful, elegant, and perhaps a bit awkward, this is not a generous whiskey. While it’s a little hard to love, I found myself returning to it more frequently than I originally expected, especially in an aperitif context. When I started thinking of it more like barley eau de vie, things clicked. While it doesn’t offer the decadent experience of many mainstream whiskeys, I appreciated the reminder that not all whisky has to taste like vanilla extract or Oloroso sherry.
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.
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