Boann and Rye River Brewing Company Collaborate for Limited Whiskey Release

Boann Distillery and Rye River Brewing Company have collaborated to create The Whistler “Fisher in the Rye” Doppelbock Rye Cask Finish - a limited whiskey release of 6,000 bottles.

This will be County Meath Distillery’s fourth craft beer brewery collaboration, following partnerships with Boyne Brewhouse, O’Hara’s, and Lough Gill.

The unique whiskey creation, which features a striking label design of a Kingfisher, involved several distinct steps to prepare the casks, and mature and age the whiskey.

Rye Whiskey casks were initially used to age a sweet malty beer, The Orator, from Rye River Brewing Company in Kildare.

The Doppelbock beer, known for its rich flavour profile, was lagered in these casks for 6 months infusing the casks with toasted and slightly sweet notes.

After the beer was removed, the casks were then filled with a blend of single grain and single malt whiskeys. The youngest whiskey in this blend is an 11-year-old single grain with the oldest being a 17-year-old single malt. These whiskeys had already undergone maturation in rye casks for 6 years, adding a layer of rye spice and complexity to their flavour profiles.

For the final stage the whiskey blend was aged further in the Doppelbock beer-seasoned rye casks for 18 months where it absorbed the residual beer notes from the casks, leading to a harmonious melding of sweet, spicy, and malty flavours.

“The Whistler Doppelbock Rye Cask Finish represents a fascinating fusion of beer and whiskey-making traditions, resulting in a distinctive spirit that will appeal to connoisseurs of both beverages,”

said Peter Cooney of Boann Distillery.

“The result of this creative process is a whiskey that offers a multi-dimensional and memorable tasting experience.”

As part of the launch, Boann Distillery will be giving away 50 limited edition poster prints of the Kingfisher illustration via social media.

The Whistler “Fisher in the Rye” Doppelbock Rye Cask Finish retails at €54.95 for a 70cl bottle and can be purchased on boanndistillery.ie.

Official Tasting notes, bottled at @ 43% ABV:

Nose:

Creamy fruits are followed by an enticing cedar spice with a hint of clove.

Palate:

A rich mouthfeel with malty timber notes unravelling into poached pear and roasted almonds.

Finish:

A long and complex finish with cracked black pepper lingering.