Pot Still Whiskey
In 1785, the British crown introduced a tax on malted barley - and Irish distillers responded with a trick that endures to this day: they blended unmalted barley into the mash to reduce the levy, unintentionally creating an entirely distinct whiskey style. By the early 19th century, this mix of malted and unmalted barley already accounted for the vast majority of Irish whiskey production. As the name suggests, pot still whiskey is distilled in copper pot stills; when a bottling comes from a single distillery, it is called single pot still whiskey. Under today's Irish regulations, the mash must contain at least 30% malted and 30% unmalted barley.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€64.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€294.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€107.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€42.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€55.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€89.99 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€75.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€57.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€54.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
CODE: BLACK25
Content: 0.7 Liter (€52.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€78.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Why did Irish distillers blend in unmalted barley?
The 1785 malt tax made malted barley more expensive - by blending in unmalted barley, distillers reduced their duty and, in the process, discovered that the resulting whiskey gained extra texture and complexity.
What distinguishes pot still whiskey from single malt?
At its core, only the use of unmalted barley in the mash - both are distilled in copper pot stills, but the unmalted barley gives pot still whiskey its characteristically oily, spiced profile.
Facts and figures
Emerged from the Irish malt tax of 1785. Current regulation: at least 30% malted and 30% unmalted barley. Best-known brands: Redbreast, Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Powers. One recommended representative is Redbreast 12 Year Old.