Whisky Focus - Focus On Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey

Focus On Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey


3rd October 2011
With the growing interest in Irish Single Pot Still whiskey I thought we would take a look at this unique Irish style of whiskey. You may already know this style of whiskey as "Pure Pot Still Whiskey" but earlier this year Irish distillers dropped this term in favour of the term "Single Pot Still Whiskey" and personally I think this was a good move as I believe the word "single" signifies the uniqueness of this beautifully smooth Irish whiskey.

Irish Single Pot Still whiskey is a style of whiskey which is unique to Ireland in general and to the Midleton Distillery, County Cork, in particular. It is regarded as the quintessential style of Irish whiskey.

Unlike Scotch Single Malt whisky which is made from malted barley then double distilled, Irish Single Pot Still whiskey is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, which is then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills. Irish Pot Still Whiskeys are characterised by full, complex flavours and a wonderful, creamy mouthfeel. The inclusion of unmalted barley to the mashbill, along with the tradition of triple distillation, defines the character of Pot Still and this uniquely Irish approach to whiskey distillation.

Single Pot Still Whiskeys (whiskeys originating from a single distillery) were once the norm in Ireland and from the late 18th century to the early 20th century, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey was the most sought after whiskey style in the world.

Indeed, by the turn of the 20th century, more Pot Still whiskey was exported from Ireland than any other whiskey style from any other country. However, a number of unfortunate coincidences led to the demise of full flavoured Pot Still Irish Whiskeys and to the rise of the lighter, more accessible blended whiskeys, which combined lighter grain whiskeys with the fuller flavoured Pot Still whiskeys or Malt whiskies.

While Pot Still Irish Whiskey continues to be used as a key component in many well known brands of blended Irish whiskey, by the turn of the millennium only two Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey brands had survived – Redbreast & Green Spot. However, in recent years this style of whiskey has enjoyed a renewed interest from whiskey writers and enthusiasts alike, giving rise to demand for new expressions and now, to the ‘Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys of Midleton’ range.

Focus On The Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton:

Up until early 2011 we only had a few Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys available, namely the Redbreast 12 & 15 year old and Green Spot.

Since early 2011 the Midleton Distillery has been adding to their family of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys adding Powers John's Lane, Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy and the newly released Redbreast 12 Cask Strength. I have taken a look at their Single Pot Still range both old and new including the outstanding new Redbreast 12 Cask Strength. Follow the links below for more info on the Midleton Single Pot Still whiskey range.

Where To Buy Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey


Select a country for a list of specialist Whisky shops who delivers to you:

Whisky Focus



<<<Back to Whisky Focus for more Whisky News

Top Of Page

 
 Drink Safely   Add Your Site   Other Whisky Sites    Links   Contact Us 
 

© 2022 www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk All rights reserved.