A rare, 21-year-old Single Malt Irish whiskey forms the centrepiece of a limited-edition collector’s item launching this week. The whiskey and wine duo is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between Ireland’s Boann Distillery and Portugal’s winery Justino’s Madeira.
After acquiring an expensive parcel of 21-year-old Single Malt, Peter Cooney of Boann Distillery in Co Meath reached out to a number of Madeira wine producers to come up with a special project, eventually connecting with Justino’s Madeira - a renowned Madeira wine producer steeped in centuries of tradition.
Using two exceptional 20-year-old Malvasia Madeira casks - originally Cognac casks crafted from Quercus Robur French Oak - the two producers agreed to first fill them with fortified wine made from the Malvasia grape grown on the volcanic slopes of North Madeira Island.
Under the traditional Canteiro process, the wine underwent maturation, replicating the historical maritime aging process on Portuguese galleons of the Middle Ages. The casks were later emptied and the wine was stored until bottling as stage two of the project took shape.
Arriving at Boann Distillery, the casks were then filled with the rare single malt whiskey for 18 months, infusing it with distinctive flavours and character. To complement this exceptional pairing, a renowned Portuguese cork producer, Amorim, crafted wooden stoppers for the bottles using staves from the Madeira casks.
This world-first project by Amorim showcased the dyeline on the corks, where the Madeira impregnated the wood over two decades.
“One of the issues with Irish Whiskey is that old mature stock is very rare and hard to find, when a parcel of mature stock becomes available the prices are exceptionally high. The established distilleries that have been in existence for decades do not sell stock, so stock can only be purchased on the secondary market."
“We managed to come upon a nice parcel of what was then a 20-year-old Single Malt that had been matured exclusively in Bourbon barrels. This whiskey was so expensive that we had to come up with a special project.”
"This collaboration was tailor-made for Boann Distillery’s 21-year-old single malt Irish whiskey and the 20-year-old Malvasia Colheita 1999 Madeira Single Cask wine” said Mr. Juan Teixeira of Justino's Madeira.
"The pairing of two noble products recognised around the world demonstrates the best that each of them has to offer and represents a harmonious blend of tradition, innovation, and a shared passion for craftsmanship. We are on a constant quest for innovation, so to partner with Boann and Amorim on this project is such an honour.”
Speaking about the wooden stoppers Pedro Costa of Amorim Top Series said: “This capsule bears the most captivating storytelling and stands as the most sustainable creation by Amorim yet. It is a labour of craftsmanship and expertise in wood."
“The pieces are carefully carved out of the curved staves of the oak barrels intended for whisky aging, after stabilising at the correct humidity. Once extracted, they are gently polished and adorned with an elegant laser engraving."
Each bottle of this special collaboration is “a testament to the passage of time” said Mr Cooney, with the Irish whiskey symbolising the sun and the Madeira wine representing the moon.
“The back label poetically notes the duration of aging, inviting consumers to savour the essence of countless sunrises and moon cycles,” he added.
Tasting Notes:
The Whistler 21-year-old Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Single Casks
Nose: A savoury and vibrant nose, with wonderful hazelnuts and caramel on approach, followed by enticing apple blossom and vanilla aromas, with a touch of fresh herbs in the background.
Palate: A rich and decadent palate, with spiced cracked pepper on entry, followed by delightful peaches and cream, backed by savoury umami undertones.
Finish: A long, chewy, and satisfying finish, with a unique and fresh minerality, truly showcasing the characteristics of the island of Madeira.
Justino’s 20-year-old Malvasia Colheita 1999 Madeira Wine Single Cask
Nose: Elegant and complex aroma. Tobacco, candied orange peel, pine, resin and spices on the nose.
Palate: Suggestions of spices like black pepper, caramel, toffee, tea leaves and toasted caramel on the palate with a good acidity balanced by a nice sugar content.
Finish: Overall, it is medium sweet with a long and quite interesting salty finish.
Both bottles are packaged in a luxurious wooden box accompanied by a booklet narrating the story of both the whiskey and wine.
Cask 26 and Cask 27 have produced a total of 1,000 bottles of both wine and whiskey, each numbered by cask and bottle number.
The recommended retail price for The Whistler 21-year-old Single Malt Whiskey and 20-year-old Madeira Wine duo (2 x 500ml) is €1,000 in the Republic of Ireland,
and it can be purchased online at Boann Distillery: boanndistillery.ie/shop/
Slán go fóill.