Boann Distillery wins a prestigious award
A family-run distillery in Co Meath has won a prestigious award for producing the best new make whiskey in the world.
Boann is the toast of the drinks industry after becoming the first Irish distillery to win the global accolade in the World Whiskies Awards.
The honour, Best New Make 2021 for its single pot still ‘New Born’ spirit, comes just weeks after it scooped six prizes in the national category of the same awards.
“This is very exciting, a first for us and a first for Ireland, no other distillery has won best international new make in this competition, which is the top award when it comes to whiskey distillation,” said Boann Distillery founder, Pat Cooney.
“We have achieved this by merging the old ways of whiskey production in copper pot stills, with cutting edge, 21st century nano-technology.
“It is an incredible achievement for our team that we have produced the best new make whiskey on the planet.”
The awards were streamed over Facebook Live last night (Thurs) from the World Whiskies Awards offices in Norfolk, England, with 1,000 whiskies entered in 16 different categories.
Level 5 restrictions, however, mean a proper celebration of Boann’s prize is on hold until later in the year.
Mr Cooney said single pot still whiskey is unique to Ireland - its history going back to the imposition of the malt tax in 1682 when Irish distillers used unmalted barley to outwit the excise men.
“As a result, it was realised over time that unmalted barley gave the finished whiskey a more rounded and mellow flavour and this most distinctive style of Irish Whiskey was born. Over time other grains were added – mostly oats, wheat and rye,” he added.
Boann employs just over 20 people at its €20million plant just outside Drogheda, with plans underway to open a new visitor centre and roll out a new gin, Silks, named after the nearby Bellewstown Races.
It adds the world prize to the six national awards it scooped in the same competition last month: Best Single Pot Still New Make 2021, Gold for its Whistler Bodega Single Malt (12 years and under), and its Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (Blended Whiskey), also securing a Silver gong for its Single Malt Whistler PX I Love You.
It clinched two Bronze awards for the Whistler Calvados Cask Finished Blend and its Whistler Mosaic (Single Grain).
Boann has recently embarked on a unique programme of cask sales. This offers the World’s Best new make spirit laid down to mature in a cask of your choice over 12 different cask types in a government controlled bond with 5 years storage and insurance pre paid.
To discover more about the Boann Distillery Cask Offers visit www.boanndistillery.ie
Last month, Boann unveiled a collection of long-lost Irish whiskey recipes unearthed by a historian. Casks were produced using ingredients - or mashbills – dating back to the 1800s.
The recipes were unearthed by leading whiskey historian Fionnan O’Connor during a thesis into the lost treasure trove.
