Calvert Woodley Catalog 2025 - Flipbook - Page 41
S
lane Castle, in the heart of Ireland’s
Boyne Valley, has evolved from a
historic estate into a modern hub of
culture, music, and whiskey-making.
“In 1981, Henry Conyngham reinvented
his family estate as a live music venue.
Nestled in a bend of the River Boyne,
Slane Castle has since hosted
legendary acts from Thin Lizzy to
Harry Styles on its natural
amphitheater stage. A new chapter
began in 2017 with the opening of
Slane Distillery, built in the Castle’s
historic stable buildings with an
investment from US Spirits company
Brown-Forman. This is BrownForman’s first distillery built by the
brand outside the United States, featuring
state-of-the-art technology designed to
enhance efficiency and support sustainable
production.
Barley for the whiskey is grown on the Slane Castle estate
and in the surrounding area. Before any distillation takes
place, Slane increases the flavor and character of their
whiskey with a long fermentation in a traditional wooden
washback. Currently, the distillery operates three of their
planned seven washbacks, enough to keep the distillery
running at full capacity for the dedicated team of six
distillers. The washbacks and stills are housed in the old
estate stables, designed by English architect Lancelot
“Capability” Brown.
Wort made from malted barley passes through a series of
three traditional fully copper pot stills whose condenser arms
poke through the slate roof. Behind a modern glass-sided
tower, a column still, divided into six sections, three stainless
steel and three copper, makes grain whiskey
from unmalted barley.
A defining feature of Slane’s whiskey, and BrownForman’s investment, occurs as the whiskey ages
in oak casks. Ireland has few oak forests to
source timber from, and until 2024 no
native cooperage to make barrels.
Brown-Forman, like most major
American distillers, who need a
constant supply of new barrels for
bourbon making, operates their own
cooperages. It’s not uncommon to
find Irish whiskey aged in what Slane
calls “seasoned” oak, which has been
previously used to hold bourbon or
American whiskey. Slane’s casks
previously held Jack Daniel’s Tennessee
Whiskey, imparting sweet notes of
caramel and banana to the blend.
More distinctive still are the ‘virgin’ oak casks,
the same medium char barrels that bring more
assertive vanilla and char flavors. Slane rounds out the blend
with large 500-liter Spanish oak sherry butts that held
oloroso sherry, bringing flavors of stewed fruit and raisins, as
well as baking spices. Whiskies are carefully selected from
aging stocks and blended to a consistent profile that’s
mellow and approachable but offers bold, full-bodied flavor.
It’s a whiskey with enough interest to drink neat but doesn’t
shy away from a cocktail.
Slane’s complex character lends itself well to classic
stirred cocktails. Try it in Tipperary No. 1, a historic
recipe that balances herbal and rich fruit notes.
1 oz Slane Irish Whiskey
5/6 oz Sweet Vermouth, such as Contratto
1/3 oz alpine herbal liqueur, such as Bordiga Monasticus
Stir all ingredients with ice.
Strain into a chilled cocktail or Nick & Nora glass (a small,
stemmed cocktail glass)
Garnish with an orange twist.
First published in Hugo R. Enslin’s 1916 Recipes for Mixed
Drinks, this cocktail originally featured equal parts, so feel
free to adjust the proportions to your liking.
Whether sipped neat or stirred into a classic cocktail,
Slane Irish Whiskey captures the character of a modern Irish
distillery grounded in heritage and craftsmanship.
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