A whiskey recipe dating back to the late 19th century has been revived by a Co Meath distillery.
Boann has bottled a 140-year-old ‘vintage mashbill’ once used by the famous Preston’s whiskey bonders of Drogheda, Co Louth.
The new spirit, Winter Solstice Preston’s Vintage Mashbill, was fully matured in an Oloroso hogshead cask of 250ltr and was bottled to coincide with the Winter Solstice.
“This is, effectively, the ghost of whiskeys past,” said founder of Boann Distillery, Pat Cooney, ahead of an exclusive tasting event at the family-owned distillery last night. (Dec21)
“Preston’s was world famous and synonymous with Drogheda and it is incredible to think we have resurrected and distilled, to the letter, one of their mashbills to make our new spirit."
“Ireland has such a rich history and relationship with whiskey and it’s great to have the opportunity to keep these old recipes alive."
“Every mashbill tastes different, depending on whether there’s more barley, less malt, more wheat, less rye.”
This single cask release is Boann’s third cask to be bottled and comes on the fourth anniversary of the distillery laying down its first spirit in 2019.
Its first was bottled on the Winter Solstice 2022, six months before the Summer Solstice Single Cask was bottled in June this year.
Whiskey historian Fionnan O’Connor has worked with the distillery in recent years to revive the old mashbills.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Smoked almonds, sherry dried raisins, maple syrup and caramelised green apples
Mouthfeel: Oily and rich
Palate: Nutty, salted caramel and sweet subtle notes of cocoa and bacon (umami). Hints of pumpkin, nutmeg, custard and crème brûlée.
Finish: Round finish with subtle notes of cracked black pepper sneaking through and hints of ginger.
Bottles, retailing at €150, go on sale online today (Dec 22) for delivery in January and are available directly from www.boanndistillery.ie. (Proof of purchase available for those who want to gift it for Christmas.)
Slán go fóill.