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and a group of investors, Teeling whiskey, but poitin has a unique heritage," plans to convert the Great says Glendalough's Brand Manager Northern Brewery in Dundalk O'Gallachoir. "The liquid has such a cominto a distillery. plex flavor profile that it is really going to "We are in a renaissance of connect with those consumers who have craft distilling in Ireland," posits been drinking Irish whiskey and want to eduDonal O'Gallachoir, brand mancate themselves further." The word poitin ager for Glendalough Irish comes from the Irish for small pots, referring Whiskey, remarking on the rash of to small pot stills. Poitin is made, says new distilleries planned or openO'Gallachoir, from a malted barley base, ing, including the company's own. putting it more in league with single malts. "For too long there have been two Glendalough offers three expressions of large distilleries and one mediumpoitin. Original is a traditional recipe, with a sized one in Ireland," he adds. mash bill of 80% malted barley and 20% sugar "Now, we want to bring back that Pernod Ricard's Irish beets, distilled in small pot stills and aged in whiskey offerings also craft, that variety, that indepen- include the higher-end barrels of Irish oak. Sugar beets add an appley dent streak that used to be rife all Redbreast and Midleton. sweetness and complexity; the use of oak hearover Ireland. The more distilleries kens back to when the illicit spirit was hidden the better." in drygoods barrels; there is no char to the oak and the spir"We see the new distilleries as a rising tide that it is clear. Bottled at floats all boats," comments Diageo's Briese. "It's a signal 40% ABV, Original of great things to come." has an SRP of $29.99. Mountain NEW NICHE FOR OLD SPIRIT Strength Poitin is here's a new spirit arising out of Ireland, one that's bottled at 120 nearly as ancient as the island itself, and wreathed proof, priced about with faery stories and folklore. Variously spelled as $33.99. Based on a poitin, poteen or potcheen, and often construed as Irish bootlegger's style, moonshine, this high-proof white liquor was outlawed Sherry Cask Poitin on Christmas Day, 1661 by English King Charles II. gets a honey color Produced in hidden glens, unlicensed poitin acquired a and additional romantic aura of illicitness. Three centuries later, it was sweetness of honey legalized and a small number of poitins is now produced and raisins from Newcomer Glendalough Irish lawfully. the cask; priced Whiskey (for now, available Kilbeggan Distilling Company, for example, makes $34.99. "We think only in the New York and a poitin, available only at the distillery. "One of the this is the first gen- Boston markets) offers three expressions of poitin. great things about being a small, nimble distillery is that uine style of poitin we can do a lot of experimentation," comments using the old methods," says O'Gallachoir. Melamed. "Poitin is a spirit that reflects the trends of the whiskey industry with [American] white dog and moonGREAT POTENTIAL shine, in keeping with consumers' interest in becoming he industry sees the Irish whiskey category doumore knowledgeable about whiskey." bling in size over the next five years in the U.S. "Poitin is a key part of Irish folklore, history and leg- Everyone expects that trajectory to continue for the next end," notes Reilly, who grew up in a part of Ireland rife 10 to 20 years," points out Di Vito at Pernod Ricard. with hills and forests ideal for concealing illegal stills. "It "We don't see it slowing down; it's been an exciting time shows there is real interest from consumers in exploring to be involved with brown spirits." "In some ways Irish whiskey is a developed categoother expressions of Irish spirits." William Grant, he ry, in a lot of other ways it's still burgeoning," opines quickly adds, has no plans for a Tullamore Dew poitin. Currently in the U.S. market, Bunratty Potcheen Diageo's Briese. The great thing about it is there is no has a modest presence. Now newcomer Glendalough one single whiskey that's perfect for everyone. There are Irish Whiskey is launching its Poitin in the New York so many options, so many things to be done in the space and Boston markets. of innovation of whiskey. And the great thing is, conSW "In the U.S. it will be seen as a new niche in Irish sumers are ready to try them all." T "T StateWays I www.stateways.com I January/February 2014 27