Origin: Drogheda (Ireland)
Typology: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Strength: 47%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Bordeaux recharred
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Boann Distillery
Average price: € 76.00
Official website: boanndistillery.ie
My curiosity in tasting tis The Whistler, the first with a declared age for me, is mainly related to the finishing process (after an initial maturation in ex-bourbon).
But it is not so much the choice of casks that had previously contained Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux that strikes me, as the fact that these casks have undergone a process called N.E.O.C. (I cannot explain exactly what the acronym stands for): a sort of recharring that aims to give the whiskey, according to what one reads on Boann’s website, a ‘New Oak style’, with an addition of spices to the aromatic heritage of the French wine that does not want to betray its deeper harmony.
Tasting Notes
The colour is an intense gold.
On the nose, the attack is fresh, spring-like, both fruity (apricot, peach, yellow apple) and floral (jasmine and violet). As the olfactory analysis continues, a citrus touch (orange zest) and a hint of vanilla are noted. The white pepper spiciness is a sort of prologue to the entrance of the confectionery, growing in intensity over time. Almond closes a profile that is not ruffian but decidedly accommodating (which is not a bad thing).
On the palate, the fruity scent does not disappear but is distinctly milder, with a hint of sour pear that does not disappoint. More robust is the creamy side, with whipped cream and vanilla cream. The spices are again reduced to white pepper, while a synthetic reminder of nail polish peeps out. The cherry is a welcome surprise.
The medium-long finish aligns whipped cream and almond, with white pepper drying out the mouth and preparing for the next sip.
Perhaps more fascinating in the choices that led to its creation, than in the final result, a whiskey that confirms the goodness of the road taken by Boann Distillery, whose products, also thanks to a reasonable alcohol content, continue to show, at the very least, an ease of drinking that is anything but negligible.
Vote: 85/100