Single Pot Stilled Whiskey
Besides the blended and malt whiskey styles, a common and well-reputed style of Irish whiskey is the “pot still” or “single pot stilled” whiskey. Technically, a pot-stilled Irish whiskey is a blended whiskey with a specific mash bill and specific distillation guidelines. They must be made from a mash of a minimum of 30% unpeated malted barley and a minimum of 30% unmalted barley. They also must be distilled in pot stills.
Pot stilled whiskeys are typically triple distilled and are a blend of grain and malt like The Pogues and Jameson and are entirely made in pot stills, like The Kinahan’s. The result of this highly specific combination of raw materials and distillation operations is a unique whiskey style that is only produced in Ireland, and for this reason, some of the biggest names in Irish whiskey tend to be of the pot stilled variation, such as Red Breast and Green Spot.
Green Spot Single Pot Still Quails Gate
Speaking of Green Spot, perhaps the most talked about Irish whiskey this year heading into St. Patrick’s Day is a unique limited bottling of whiskey. This is a Single Pot Stilled Irish Whiskey that has been triple distilled at Midleton Distillery, aged in American Bourbon and Sherry casks and then finished in BC’s own Quail’s Gate Pinot Noir Barrels and bottled at 46% abv.
The colour showcases a slight garnet from the Pinot Noir barrels as well as some chill haze. There are notable cherry and red berry notes elevating the malt. Fruity esters of red apple and pear from the pot still distillation melt into the background as dried red fruit, spice, brown sugar, and vanilla dominate the palate.
What is most remarkable is the incredibly luscious texture. Supported by the use of unmalted barley, and enhanced by the richness of the pinot noir barrels, this unique release of Green Spot coats the mouth and lingers long after the finish. This is a slow-sipping whiskey if you’ve ever had one!
Author Kamran Ahmed: Kam began his journey with JAK's in 2018. He worked seasonally in liquor retail for nearly a decade while pursuing a Master's in Cinema before realizing that beer, whisky, and wine were more interesting. He has WSET Level 3 in both wines and spirits, is a Prud'homme certified Beer Sommelier, and is a certified Whisky Ambassador. Outside of JAK's, find him at the Cinematheque, a local brewery, or a dog trail with his pupper, Charlie!