What Is Single Pot Still Whiskey and Why Should You Want It?
Single pot still whiskey is a style made exclusively in Ireland: at a single distillery, in copper pot stills, from a mix of malted and unmalted barley. It is the unmalted barley that gives it the trademark spicy, creamy character you will not find anywhere else in the world.
How did the style come about?
It all comes down to taxes. In 1785 the British crown levied a tax on malted barley, so Irish distillers began adding cheaper unmalted barley. What started as a tax dodge became the defining style of Irish whiskey; in the 19th century pot still whiskey was the most sought-after in the world. Under today's rules the mash must contain at least 30 percent malted and 30 percent unmalted barley.
What does pot still taste like?
Unmalted barley does interesting things to both texture and flavour:
- a creamy, almost oily fullness in the mouth
- pronounced spice: pepper, ginger, nutmeg
- notes of green fruit and grainy sweetness
- a long, warming finish
Compared with a single malt, pot still is more robust and "broader"; compared with a blend it is markedly fuller.
Why is Redbreast 12 a legend?
Redbreast 12 y.o. from the Midleton distillery is the most decorated pot still whiskey of our time. It matures in a combination of ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, which adds dried fruit, marzipan and sherried depth to the trademark spice. The brand dates back to 1912 and among connoisseurs it is regarded as the benchmark of the entire category. We keep Redbreast 12 on the bar at Little Island in Frydek-Mistek; if you have never tried pot still, it is the perfect first bottle.
Which other pot still whiskeys deserve attention?
Beyond Redbreast, the category includes Green Spot and Yellow Spot, Powers John's Lane and new pot still releases from the Teeling distillery. The category is enjoying a renaissance: as recently as the 1980s only two brands survived, whereas today there are dozens.
Want to taste the only purely Irish style of whiskey? Call in at Little Island Irish Pub, tr. T. G. Masaryka 1129 in Frydek-Mistek, and ask for a Redbreast 12. The full range is at /napojovy-listek.