Boann Distillery Single Pot Still Marsala Cask Irish Whiskey Review

Even in areas where the noble art of distilling has long since fallen into oblivion, new life can be breathed back into the process. This is proven by the Boann Distillery with their Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey. But has this yielded a praiseworthy whiskey result?

The people in the Boyne Valley are no strangers when it comes to whiskey. In fact, the drink is mentioned in one of the country's first official documents - an Act of Parliament from Drogheda, the town at the heart of the valley. This 1556 document outlawed distilling whiskey unless the 'gentlemen' in question held a permit.

Legal distillation flourished in Drogheda in the subsequent centuries, with the city boasting as many as eight distilleries at its peak. In the end, however, that number was reduced to nil, due in part to the rise of Scotch, a civil war, the Prohibition era in the United States, and a trade dispute with the United Kingdom.

Now, 160 years after the last barrels were filled in Drogheda, whiskey is once again flowing through the city. Boann Distillery has breathed new life into the process using a mix of traditional and modern techniques. The result: the Boann Distillery Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

With distilling returning to Drogheda, the distillers at Boann Distillery pay homage to the region by adhering to traditional brewing and distillation methods. This of course includes creating a mixture of malted and unmalted barley for the whiskey - the essential key to making Single Pot Still Whiskey, as opposed to Single Malt, which exclusively uses malted barley.

While sticking to traditional methods, Boann Distillery also embraces the 21st century. For instance, they are the first distillery in Ireland to employ nanotechnology and new cooling techniques. Yet this in no way takes away from the soul of the whiskey.

As soon as you bring a glass of Boann Distillery Single Pot Still near your nose, the aromatic presence is immediate – and delightfully so. Irish whiskey traditionally has a softer character and initially you catch sweet elements like marmalade and honey. But soon you detect pepper and other spices, adding piquancy to the sweetness.

When you put the glass to your lips and let the golden spirit glide over your tongue, you soon realize it presents a potent character. The spices you smell are the first you taste, offering a bitter twang. This is quickly complemented by fruit and a subtle hint of coffee and peppermint. An audacious blend that works well and tastes as if there is more alcohol in the bottle than the label suggests. The Single Pot Still won't slide down your throat unnoticed.

Although it’s potent, it’s not discomforting. While you might expect more alcohol on your tongue, you feel almost no burn in the throat. The strength of the whiskey makes its presence felt at just the right points. Meanwhile, the taste lingers on the tongue for quite a while, with pepper and cinnamon dominating. Expect a slightly bitter and somewhat dry aftertaste. It might be a good idea to keep a glass of water on hand.

Not only does the Boann Distillery Single Pot Still Marsala Cask Irish Whiskey impress us with its flavor, but also with its packaging. The spirit is presented in a beautiful bottle. It would be a shame to hide this whiskey in its box or behind other bottles in the collection.

The bottle gives the impression that the whiskey is more expensive than it actually is. Boann Distillery has set a very attractive price tag, especially for a whiskey with such a pronounced character. If you wish to immerse yourself in the rich world of single pot still whiskeys, we definitely recommend this one.

+ A wonderful blend of sweet and powerful, bitter flavors

+ Comes in a beautiful bottle

- Bitter and somewhat dry aftertaste

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