Boann Distillery Launches Unique Double Whiskey for Winter Solstice

Boann Distillery, located in Meath, has unveiled a unique offering to celebrate the Winter Solstice with its first-ever double whiskey release. This marks the sixth installment in the distillery’s annual series, which has become a cherished tradition. The two new whiskeys, revealed at Boann’s Winter Solstice tasting event on December 18, 2025, draw inspiration from ancient pagan lore, specifically the story of the Oak King and the Holly King.

According to founder Pat Cooney, the narrative behind these whiskeys symbolizes the eternal struggle between light and darkness. The Oak King prevails during the brighter months, ruling from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice, while the Holly King dominates the darker half of the year. Cooney expressed, “This is the first time we’ve released two Winter Solstice whiskeys together, and it felt right to let them speak to one another. The Oak King and Holly King represent the turning of the year itself.”

Each whiskey is crafted as a Single Pot Still Irish whiskey, bottled at cask strength, with natural color and non-chill filtering—hallmarks of Boann’s Winter Solstice offerings. The Oak King Amontillado has matured for four years in an Amontillado hogshead, a cask known for its warmth and structure. Its mashbill includes 40% malted barley, 55% unmalted barley, 3% oats, and 2% rye. In contrast, the Holly King Oloroso has been aged for five years in an Oloroso hogshead, delivering a rich and deeper flavor profile, composed of 55% malted barley, 40% unmalted barley, and 5% oats.

To enrich the cultural significance of the release, the back labels of each bottle feature Ogham script, which translates to Rí Darrach (Oak King) and Rí Cuilinn (Holly King), connecting the product to Irish language and mythology.

These whiskeys are priced at €120 each or available as a paired release for €210, exclusively at www.boanndistillery.ie. In a notable first for the series, attendees at the tasting event will also have the rare opportunity to sample Amontillado fortified wine directly from the cask, providing insight into how the cask influences the final spirit.

The Winter Solstice release coincides with an upcoming public consultation in January regarding proposed changes to the Irish whiskey Geographical Indication. These changes could allow for greater mashbill diversity within the Single Pot Still category, aligning modern regulations more closely with traditional Irish whiskey practices.

For additional details and to explore the full range of Boann products, visit boanndistillery.ie.