Pure pot still whiskey
Encyclopedia
Pure pot still whiskey is whiskey
distilled by a pot still
. The term emphasizes that the whiskey contains only spirits produced from a pot still, without being blended
with column still
whiskey or neutral grain spirit
s. They are typically distilled from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley, and thus can not be called single malts.
Unlike the term “single malt” in Scotch whisky regulations
, the terms “pot still” and “pure pot still” are generally not protected terms with well-defined legal meanings. Whiskey producers have sometimes used the term "pot still" in the name or advertising for whiskeys that have actually been distilled using a column still for at least some part the distillation process.
Although the pot still was essentially the only distillation method for whiskey prior to the invention of the continuous still
, the invention of the continuous still
made whiskey making substantially more economical, which – along with a number of historical factors including the Irish War of Independence
, the Irish Civil War
, and Prohibition in the United States
– has led to a drastic reduction in the number of pot still distilleries in current operation.
Apart from the Scottish single malts, the majority of modern distilleries use continuous stills. However, due to recent attention from prominent whiskey critics such as Jim Murray
and the praise given to surviving non-single malt pure pot still whiskeys such as Redbreast
and Green Spot
, the style has seen a revival in recent years. For example, in late 2008, the Irish company Porterhouse Brewery announced that they would be investing 8 million euros in the creation of a new distillery in Dingle
, County Kerry
that will be devoted to the production of pure pot still whiskey in the traditional style.
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
distilled by a pot still
Pot still
A pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the wash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
. The term emphasizes that the whiskey contains only spirits produced from a pot still, without being blended
Blended whiskey
A blended whisky is the product of blending different types of whiskies and often also neutral and near-neutral spirits, coloring, and flavorings...
with column still
Column still
A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns invented in 1826 by Robert Stein, a Clackmannanshire distiller, and it was first used at the Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery in Fife, Scotland. The design was enhanced and...
whiskey or neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit
Neutral grain spirit is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid that has been distilled from a grain-based mash to a very high level of ethanol content...
s. They are typically distilled from a mixture of malted and unmalted barley, and thus can not be called single malts.
Unlike the term “single malt” in Scotch whisky regulations
Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009
The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 is a Statutory Instrument that regulates the production, labeling, advertising and packaging of Scotch whisky. The regulations were laid before the Parliament of the United Kingdom on October 30th, 2009 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II...
, the terms “pot still” and “pure pot still” are generally not protected terms with well-defined legal meanings. Whiskey producers have sometimes used the term "pot still" in the name or advertising for whiskeys that have actually been distilled using a column still for at least some part the distillation process.
Although the pot still was essentially the only distillation method for whiskey prior to the invention of the continuous still
Column still
A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns invented in 1826 by Robert Stein, a Clackmannanshire distiller, and it was first used at the Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery in Fife, Scotland. The design was enhanced and...
, the invention of the continuous still
Column still
A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns invented in 1826 by Robert Stein, a Clackmannanshire distiller, and it was first used at the Cameron Bridge Grain Distillery in Fife, Scotland. The design was enhanced and...
made whiskey making substantially more economical, which – along with a number of historical factors including the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, and Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
– has led to a drastic reduction in the number of pot still distilleries in current operation.
Apart from the Scottish single malts, the majority of modern distilleries use continuous stills. However, due to recent attention from prominent whiskey critics such as Jim Murray
Jim Murray (writer)
Jim Murray is an English writer and journalist. He is best known for his observations on whisky and his annually updated book on the subject, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.-Life:Murray was born in Merstham, Surrey...
and the praise given to surviving non-single malt pure pot still whiskeys such as Redbreast
Redbreast (whiskey)
Redbreast is a pure pot still whiskey Irish Whiskey. The only consistently available expression is a 12-year although a 15 year old expression was released in 2010 as an ongoing bottling. Redbreast comes in a green bottle and the 12 year old is 40.0% ABV whereas the 15 year old is at 46% and...
and Green Spot
Green Spot (whiskey)
Green Spot is a pot still distilled Irish whiskey, produced specifically for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery, Cork, Ireland...
, the style has seen a revival in recent years. For example, in late 2008, the Irish company Porterhouse Brewery announced that they would be investing 8 million euros in the creation of a new distillery in Dingle
Dingle
Dingle is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about 49 kilometres southwest of Tralee and 71 kilometres northwest of Killarney....
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
that will be devoted to the production of pure pot still whiskey in the traditional style.
See also
- Blended whiskeyBlended whiskeyA blended whisky is the product of blending different types of whiskies and often also neutral and near-neutral spirits, coloring, and flavorings...
- Green Spot Irish whiskeyGreen Spot (whiskey)Green Spot is a pot still distilled Irish whiskey, produced specifically for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, by Irish Distillers at the Midleton Distillery, Cork, Ireland...
- Irish whiskeyIrish whiskeyIrish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
- RedbreastRedbreast (whiskey)Redbreast is a pure pot still whiskey Irish Whiskey. The only consistently available expression is a 12-year although a 15 year old expression was released in 2010 as an ongoing bottling. Redbreast comes in a green bottle and the 12 year old is 40.0% ABV whereas the 15 year old is at 46% and...
- PoitínPoitínPoitín , anglicised as poteen, is a traditional Irish distilled, highly alcoholic beverage . Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot still and the term is a diminutive of the Irish word pota, meaning "pot"...