Origin: Drogheda (Ireland)
Typology: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Strength: 48%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry PX
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Boann Distillery
Average price: € 60.00
Official website: boanndistillery.ie
Vote: 85/100
Around Drogheda, where the Boann Distillery is based, they must have a certain passion for cinema (as well as whiskey, of course), because after The Good, The Bad and The Smoky, which paid homage to Sergio Leone’s masterpiece ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ (1966), they came up with this PX I Love You, which evidently recalls the romantic comedy ‘P. S. I Love You’ (2008) starring Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler.
Thanks to the kindness of Dario Crisci of Cuzziol Craft, the Italian importer, we pour it into the glass and find out if it will trigger our love too.
Speaking of ageing, from Ireland they are keen to point out that the refinement in ex-PX casks, after an initial maturation in ex-Bourbon, lasted 9 months. 100% Irish malted barley, natural colour, no chillfiltration, 46% ABV the other necessary specifications.
Let’s drink.
Tasting notes
The colour is amber.
On the nose, the contribution of the former PX casks is really well balanced, with notes of walnut, almonds and nuts in general, a spicy note of cloves and nutmeg with a slight touch of cinnamon, but no diabetic faintness, and a pleasant side dish of yellow apple, vanilla and caramel. There is also a hint of After Eight.
On the palate, the spiciness becomes more lively with a discreet dose of white pepper, while the nuts are accompanied by a memory of active sawmill and a string of peels: apricot, green apple and blood orange, which provide the balance between sweeter sinks and acidic peaks. The caramel is salty and dries the mouth in anticipation of a medium persistent finish with still plenty of nuts, some spice and the desire to drink more.
A perfectly ‘constructed’ whiskey, if we can use this term, here in an entirely positive sense, to convey the idea. The former PX casks have been used with great intelligence: their contribution is evident but not overpowering, and decisively enriches the drink, which is never complicated and always enjoyable.