The Grandfather of Spirits.
Glendalough is a
small craft distillery that harnesses its tradition, heritage and the origin of Whiskey. To really harness the roots of Whiskey, you have to go back to Poitin (pronounced potcheen). The first Spirit that was ever distilled, according to certain records, is traditionally distilled in a small pot still made from malted barley, treacle, potatoes, sugar beet or wheat. Invented by
Irish monks in the 6th century this prime water of life became a thing of a legend, especially because it was outlawed in 1661 by
King Charles II.
So it spent the past four centuries in remoteness, a thing of
bootleggers and moonshiners, distilled and consumed away from the public eye. Times have changed, however, and Poitin is not a thing of the clandestine anymore, it has
risen out from the cellars and cupboards of Irish households.
Glendalough Poitin is made from sugar beet and malted barley. The mash must ferment for
72 hours to achieve a high alcohol content. It is matured in
virgin Irish oak casks. Using the old recipes passed down through generations for over fourteen centuries, this true Irish Spirit is a real
living fossil in the Spirits World!
Smartass Corner:
You can sip Poitin straight or on the rocks, but the guys from the Glendalough Distillery recommend to try these Poitin cocktails.