Irish distillery Boann and bonding warehouse Two Stacks, have come together to blend and bottle an exclusive poitín of only 6 bottles.
Made from a century-old whiskey mashbill and matured in 100-year-old Oloroso casks for just under 10 weeks, five bottles of the unique spirit will be up for grabs at Ireland’s first ever poitín conference and tasting event, Poitín Now, next month.
“The poitín is one of a kind - a single pot still spirit created using the same ingredients as Irish whiskeys produced in the 1920s and re-discovered by whiskey historian Fionnan O’Connor last year,” said Michael Walsh, head distiller at Boann Distillery outside Drogheda.
“Working with Two Stacks in Co Down, we have bottled six in total as a special commemorative bottling and a very special addition to the Poitín Now show in November.”
The sold-out event takes place on November 20th in Bar 1661 in Dublin, with distillers, industry experts and cocktail producers congregating for the first time for tastings, lively discussions and debates about the national spirit as it grows in popularity.
“In recent years, Irish distilleries have taken poitín to a whole new level and are now producing what can only be described as world-class spirits,” said Francis Leavey, organiser of Poitín Now.
“We are delighted to bring this innovative collaboration between Boann and Two Stacks to Ireland’s first-ever event showcasing Ireland’s national spirit."
“Of the six priceless 700ml bottles, one will be poured for tasting and five lucky attendees will be in with a chance to win one of the remaining five in a draw.”
The century-old cask used to mature the spirit was purchased by Boann in August as part of a 68-cask buy when a Spanish bodega in Andalucía closed.
Filled with a mashbill from the 1920s, the spirit will mature at Two Stacks bonded warehouse in Co Down to produce a new make whiskey in 10-20 years.
“This exclusive bottling at under 10 weeks is a unique opportunity for people to try the casks which will not be bottled for many more years in the future,” said Shane McCarthy of Two Stacks.
Poitín is one of only three certified Irish Geographical Indication (GI) spirits, which are spirits protected and defined as uniquely Irish. Irish single pot still whiskey and cream liqueur make up the other two.
Slán go fóill.