Boann Winter Solstice Preston’s Vintage Mashbill Irish Whiskey

 

A whiskey recipe dating back to the late 19th century has been revived. 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, Boann 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 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.

The first Winter Solstice whiskey was bottled on the Winter Solstice 2022, six months before the Summer Solstice Single Cask was bottled in June 2023. Whiskey historian and author Fionnan O’Connor has worked closely with Boann Distillery in recent years on The Vintage Mashbills Project, to revive the old mashbills as part of his PhD.

We revealed the third Solstice Whiskey at an event at Boann Distillery on December 21st 2023, where guests enjoyed specially curated cocktails, guided distillery tours and a guided whiskey tasting with perfectly paired canapes and small bites. Boann Winter Solstice Preston’s Vintage Mashbill Irish Whiskey is available now exclusively from the Boann Distillery webstore.

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.