The latest release in Boann Distillery’s Solstice Single Cask series, crafted using a 19th-century whiskey recipe, sold out within hours of its launch on December 13, 2024. Limited to just 270 bottles, this edition revives Vintage Mashbill 1, a historic recipe from The Manufacture of Whisky and Plain Spirit by JA Nettleton, a seminal figure in Irish distilling.
The Solstice Single Cask bottlings have become a hallmark of Boann, timed to coincide with the Winter and Summer Solstices, celebrating the distillery’s connection to nearby Newgrange. This release marks five years since Boann laid down its first spirit, with the distillation carried out as part of the Vintage Mashbill Project, a collaboration with whiskey historian Fionnán O’Connor to resurrect historic Pot Still whiskey recipes.
Boann founder Pat Cooney shared the inspiration behind the project:
“We reached back to the 19th century to recreate a spirit that reflects the golden age of Irish whiskey-making. Crafted with 30% malted barley, 60% unmalted barley, and 10% oats, this whiskey breaks from modern conventions while honoring tradition and advancing contemporary distilling.”
The Whiskey: Winter Solstice Single Cask 2024
Distilled and matured entirely at Boann Distillery, this single cask expression was aged in an Oloroso Sherry hogshead for nearly four years and bottled at a robust 61.3% ABV.
Tasting Notes:
- Nose: Burnt toffee, treacle, raisins, and stone fruits with a touch of wood and campfire smoke.
- Palate: Tobacco and leather evolve into fruity zest, sherbet, plum jam, and dark fruits, accented by a hint of salinity.
- Finish: Spicy and tannic with the distinct influence of the smoky Oloroso cask.
Celebrate the Solstice at Boann
To commemorate the release, Boann will host a special Winter Solstice event on December 19, featuring a guided tasting of the Winter Solstice Single Cask 2024, alongside other Boann Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys such as Marsala, Madeira, and Pedro Ximénez cask expressions. Guests will also gain insights into the innovative Vintage Mashbill Project.
Tickets for the event are available now via Eventbrite.
