‘A Meeting of Shared Values Between 2 Innovators’: This Irish Whiskey Distillery and Menswear Company are Launching a Limited Edition Clothing Line

The latest look at Waterford Distillery’s collaboration with L’Estrange, a menswear line. (Photo: Waterford Distillery)

On Tuesday, Waterford Distillery and English menswear brand L’Estrange announced the launch of a limited-run clothing line, and 1% of the proceeds will be donated to DIRT, a charity meant to support biodynamic farming.

In a news release, the brands described the collaboration as “a meeting of shared values between two innovators” inspired by regenerative agriculture and the ingredient so key to Waterford’s whiskeys, barley.

All garments in the collection are inspired by the colors of ripe barley fields and the interior of each garment is lined with a map of where all Waterford’s barley is farmed.

The limited run will feature just 100 garments in each category. The collection will include the L’Estrange 24 overshirt and the L’Estrange 24 heavyweight trouser.

“Waterford Distillery and L’Estrange are kindred spirits. We are both visionaries that take regenerative farming seriously and understand its positive impacts,” stated the Head of Brand at Waterford Distillery, Mark Newton according to The Spirits Business.

Each item of clothing will include a 100-milliliter sample of Waterford’s Organic Gaia 1.1 whiskey — for drinking in style, of course.

Irish whiskey brands appear to be setting trends both in the world of whiskey and fashion as of late. In June, the popular brand Jameson launched a collaboration with Dickies in celebration of the modern craftsperson.

Biodynamic Farming Explained

Biodynamic farming is a principle developed by Austrian architect Rudolph Steiner.

The methodology behind Biodynamics stems from Anthroposophy, a philosophy that all human beings can develop to their fullest potential and access a spiritual world, according to the Sustainable Food Trust.

Certain farming techniques associated with biodynamic farming include planting according to the lunar calendar, burying cow horns in the soil, and spraying protective teas over crops.

This type of farming is also gaining traction in viticulture, or winegrowing.

Waterford Distillery claims to pride itself on prioritizing the farming of its barley and uses exclusively Irish barley — some of which is biodynamically farmed.

The brand claims the influence of Irish terroir can be felt in the finished spirit, leaving an authentic taste of Ireland. Waterford Distillery occasionally experiments with peated releases, like Waterford Ballybannon.

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