Marks & Spencer has partnered with Irish whiskey business Boann Distillery to launch Stillness Irish Whiskey, a new own-label spirit created exclusively for M&S customers.
A triple-cask blend, Stillness Irish Whiskey will be rolled out in M&S stores across Ireland and the UK.
Today’s deal builds on a two-year partnership between M&S and Boann Distillery, which already supplies the retailer’s premium Irish Cream Liqueur.
Boann Distillery is a second-generation family business founded by the Cooney family, whose experience in the Irish drinks industry spans more than 60 years.
Since opening in 2019, the distillery has grown to employ more than 90 people across two sites in Co Meath and Tipperary. The business remains family-run, with Patrick Cooney as CEO and family members leading exports, operations, finance, marketing and hospitality.
The whiskey was developed over two years of close collaboration between M&S product developers and the Boann team, with multiple visits to the distillery in Lagavooren, on the outskirts of Drogheda, for on-site blending and tasting sessions until the final blend was agreed.
Peter Cooney, Export Sales Director at Boann Distillery, said that working with M&S had pushed the company in the best possible way.
“They’re meticulous, they’re demanding in all the right ways, and we absolutely love working with them,” he added.
Eddie Murphy, Country Director for M&S Ireland and Northern Ireland, said that Stillness is a delicious addition to the M&S spirits range and a real showcase of what Irish producers do best.
“Boann is a family business with deep roots in Co Meath, and the quality and craft that goes into every bottle really comes through. We’re proud to bring our customers a whiskey they can trust for both great taste and great value,” he added.