2022 will see Killowen’s first distilled Whiskey come into fruition.
As excited as they are about this, they also have a 2022 target to revolutionise Poitín and people’s attitudes toward it with a number of exciting releases.
2022 is now ‘The year of the Poitín’.
For those of us not used to quality Poitín, this is how Killowen thinks it should be. Don’t think of it as a Whiskey, but instead, a small batch premium spirit category that has been legislated into a ghetto since 1661 and again in 1997.
Stone Soup Irish Poitín (500ml / 55%ABV) on sale from 5pm Friday 28th January 2022. Purchase from Irish Malts, Celtic Whiskey Shop & any quality outlets in Northern Ireland powered by Anzac Wholesale and also the UK through Umbrella Project.
Nose
Notes from Killowen
It somehow smells sticky, with figs & dates, a little turf smoke and pine tree.
Pallet
Killowen DNA is all over it, sweet, earthiness, menthol & brown sugar at the same time. The mouthfeel is oily lather
Finish
Grapefruit Brûlée & honey glazed ham, a hint of lavender astringency and very warming without any burn.
Poitín Details
As a native spirit, the Poitín technical file is more in need of reform than Whiskey (it’s younger sibling). The current file has been imagined by a Whiskey lobby which unfortunately recognises the potential of Poitín as much as we do. If we consider the relationship Mescal has with Tequila, it’s a suitable analogy. The booming success of Mescal internationally has created a huge vibrant international economy for the Mexican people. All of this has occurred while Mexico has been governed by one slightly less competent government than Ireland’s two today.
Why then has Poitín not yet exploded to its’ rightful place of international fame? You can join the dots.
Stone Soup
The Story of Stone Soup is one fondly remembered from childhood, a story originating in eastern Europe that had seen recent changes to suit relative audiences. It is a story of sharing, but ultimately it tells us of two types of people, a powerful influential figure, removed from the reality of the world who suddenly finds he is unable to feed himself until a normal everyday person decides to make him a delicious bowl of soup using only a small stone. The same disassociation today between some and the reality of our native spirits has inspired this bottling.
To comply with legislation, this bottle of Poitín must be stored for a period not exceeding ten weeks and the labelling may not refer to casks, maturation, or aging on the label, presentation, marketing or packaging material.
As is with any creative profession, be it, for instance, architecture or distilling, an abundance in restrictions can help to bring forth the best creativity and this Poitín is certainly up there with the best.
