Brisbane Airport’s Natalie Myatt wins Writers’ Tears rugby prediction contest amid plenty of Irish tears

Natalie Myatt: In a class of her own as a travel retail rugby pundit

IRELAND/JAPAN. Brisbane Airport Corporation Retail Asset Manager – ITB Natalie Myatt was the clear-cut winner of The Moodie Davitt Report’s latest Readers’ Contest in partnership with brand owner Walsh Whiskey – dedicated to the rugby showdown between Ireland and Japan on 28 September.

The Moodie Davitt Report understands that Walsh Whiskey is contemplating a new line extension called Irish Tears Shed. It will involve a unique distilling method called a boilover.

Walsh Whiskey offered readers the opportunity to win a bottle of Writers’ Tears Copper Pot Japanese Cask finish, recently launched through Aer Rianta International (ARI), as reported.

The limited-edition, which is only available in The Loop stores at Dublin and Cork airports, was released ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which began last month in Japan.

The rules were simple (we thought), involving picking the right result, from which the closest estimate to the final score would win.

Alas, of some near 80 entries, many of them from Irish men and women, only one, Natalie’s, predicted a Japanese victory.  And that is what famously ensued as the hosts turned up the form book to stun the recent world number one side 19 points to 12. Natalie opted for a 28-26 victory to Japan and takes away this fabulous bottle as a memento.

*The Moodie Davitt Report understands that Walsh Whiskey is contemplating a new line extension called Irish Tears Shed. It will involve a unique distilling method called a boilover.

There certainly will be Irish tears shed if, as now seems likely, Ireland meet the reigning world champions, the All Blacks, in the quarter-final. Walsh Whiskey may just differ on that point, however.

Nice to see you, Nice: Kiwi Martin Moodie shows appropriate sympathy (i.e. absolutely none) to Irishmen Dermot Davitt (who can be seen shedding a writer’s tears) and David Spillane as they step off the plane at Nice Airport on Saturday after the shock result hours earlier

[image_magnify src=”https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WT_600.jpg” src_big=”https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WT_1200.jpg” alt=”” /]

As reported, the whiskey is a marriage of two premium Irish whiskies – Single Malt and Single Pot Still – to a cask strength of 55% ABV. It was first aged in American oak bourbon barrels before being finished for nine months in two Japanese Mizunara oak barrels, which are known for complex notes of sandalwood, coconut, spice and Japanese incense.

It will be all tears for Japan or Ireland on 28 September when the two countries face off in the Rugby World Cup
(l-r) Walsh Whiskey Commercial Manager (Travel Retail) Brian Hogan, ARI Liquor Buyer at The Loop Tracey Jordan and Walsh Whiskey Co-founder & Managing Director Bernard Walsh at the launch of the line extension

Walsh Whiskey Co-founder & Managing Director Bernard Walsh said at the launch: “We say of Writers’ Tears Copper Pot – ‘what’s rare is wonderful’ but Mizunara oak casks are rarer still and the combination of the two together, at nothing less than cask strength, is a fitting tribute as our countries prepare to lock horns at the Rugby World Cup. Saikō no chīmu ga katsu yō ni – May the best team win!” Well, they did Bernard, they truly did.

Food & Beverage The Magazine eZine