Boann Distillery has launched three new whiskeys as part of it's premium Whistler range.
The cask finished series are triple distilled for extra smoothness, with each having its own unique finish, including a 16-year-old single malt finished in rare Palo Cortado sherry casks.
The Whistler Dark Symphony, a category winner at the World Whiskies Awards already this year, is a blend of 20% malt and 80% grain.
It boasts a unique finish in New Era Oak Casks (N.E.O.C) Cognac barrels for a minimum of 12 months.
The N.E.O.C. process includes hand-shaving and delicately toasting the staves to bring forward oak spiciness, which work in harmony with notes of candied fruits from the cognac influence.
The whiskey is bottled at 43% ABV, is non-chill filtered and contains no caramel colouring.
RRP €52.50
The Whistler 10-year-old French Oak offers a unique single malt whiskey that highlights the best traits of two different species of oak.
The whiskey is matured in American Oak for a full bodied and honeyed profile, then finished in French Oak infused with the finest Bordeaux wine.
The French barrel was taken through the N.E.O.C. process to offer a virgin oak base for further maturation, giving the whiskey a ‘New Oak’ style spice that works in harmony with notes of dried fruits.
RRP €75
At the top end of the range is the Single Malt 16-year-old Whistler “El Misterioso”, presented in a striking red single bottle gift pack.
First matured in second fill bourbon barrels for fourteen years, this unique triple distilled Irish Whiskey was then finished in rare Palo Cortado sherry casks for two years.
Mystery surrounds Palo Cortado because nobody fully understands its origins. It is a sherry that occurs by accident, and is only produced naturally from 1-2% of grapes pressed for sherry.
Initially aged under flor to become a fino or amontillado, it inexplicably loses its veil of flor to begin aging oxidatively like an oloroso.
It is bottled at 43% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
RRP €165
Co Meath’s Boann Distillery is renowned for it's innovative distilling techniques and use of rare and special casks, making it a standout in the Irish drinks industry.
It is the brainchild of the Cooney family, who are leading a renaissance of Irish whiskey with their state of the art facility outside Drogheda.
Full tasting notes for all three whiskeys are available on the Boann Distillery website, www.boanndistillery.ie, where the whiskeys can also be purchased.
Slán go fóill.