Boann Distillery has achieved a landmark moment in Irish whiskey history, with one of its whiskeys chosen as one of only seven single cask bottlings selected for this year’s Whisky Show, London (October 3–5).
The Boann 2021 Single Oloroso Hogshead was handpicked by world-renowned whisky writer Dave Broom, marking the first time in the festival’s history that a cask has been chosen by someone outside The Whisky Exchange’s buying team.
Only 318 bottles have been produced, priced at £110, and available exclusively at the prestigious London festival. Each bottle bears the signatures of Dave Broom, Irish whiskey historian Dr Fionnán O’Connor, and Dawn Davies, head buyer at The Whisky Exchange.
Taking place at Old Billingsgate, The Whisky Show is the UK’s largest whisky festival, bringing together distillers, writers, and enthusiasts from across the world for a celebration of craftsmanship, innovation, and heritage. Each year, the show curates a small number of exclusive single cask releases from the world’s top producers. Joining Boann this year are bottlings from Scotland, Japan, and Korea, reflecting the growing diversity of global whisky-making.
“This is a huge moment not only for Boann Distillery but for Single Pot Still whiskey, Irish whiskey, and the revival of lost mash bills,”
— Peter Cooney, Co-founder, Boann Distillery
Developed with Dr Fionnán O’Connor, this limited release forms part of Boann’s ambitious programme to revive Ireland’s historic mash bills — the grain recipes that once defined Irish whiskey in the 19th century.
“Whiskey like this hasn’t been seen in the UK since the 1800s,” adds Cooney. “It’s a tribute to the creamy, rich pot still spirits that were once standard across Ireland — recreated with authenticity and innovation.”
Reviving Lost Irish Whiskey Traditions
Boann’s vintage mash bill series is based on archival records from 1800–1900, when Irish whiskey reigned as the world’s leading spirit.
The mash bill for this release — dating back to at least 1892 — combines 30% malted barley, 40% unmalted barley, and 30% oats, triple-distilled and matured for 4.5 years in a 250-litre oloroso hogshead from Montilla-Moriles, Spain.
The reintroduction of oats, once a hallmark of 19th-century Irish whiskey, lends a creamy mouthfeel and remarkable depth, while the oloroso maturation layers orchard fruit sweetness, chocolate richness, and warm baking spice.
🥃 Boann 2021 4 Year Old — Single Oloroso Hogshead #21001
Nose: White chocolate, unripe strawberries, rich sultanas, spiced sponge cake, baked apples with cinnamon, and caramel-filled chocolates.
Palate: Oily and rich with orchard fruit, toffee, baking spices, brown sugar, and layers of milk chocolate.
Finish: Juicy sultanas, raisins, lingering toffee sauce, and nutmeg spice.
