Origin: Drogheda (Ireland)
Typology: Irish Single Grain Whiskey
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Marsala Casks
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Boann Distillery
Average price: € 45.00
Official website: boanndistillery.ie
Vote: 85/100
I return to the Irish distillery of Drogheda with one of their most recent bottlings, a single grain (called Premium) with a double maturation.
After spending an unspecified time in ex-Bourbon barrels, the whiskey was aged for 15 months in barrels that contained Sicilian Marsala wine, an unremerous pairing for the emerald island distillate.
All natural and unchillfiltered, the sample in my hands is part of the set of Three Drams from last January.
Tasting notes
Straw yellow in the glass.
On the nose it is pleasantly herbaceous, with a veil of paint that accompanies cereals, flowers (honeysuckle and heather), cloves, vanilla, raisins, honey, orange peel and a few drops of lemon. It softens with time, acquiring warmth and silkiness with the influence of the wine that becomes more apparent.
It’s on the palate that the Marsala explodes, vinous and enveloping, with the shades of whiskey to support a full-bodied symphony. Ripe banana and peach, dried fruit, chocolate, shortcrust pastry, candied orange, honey… it’s a crescendo of songs and countercantas with wine that takes the closing, fading on the finish.
A fairly long and dry finish, of lemon, raisins, citrus fruits, cereals.
A combination that unexpectedly works very well: giving the right time to the whiskey, its components harmonize and give pleasant sensations. Really successful.