Single Pot Still Whisky – Have You Tried It?
Earlier this week, Scottish distillery InchDairnie released a Scottish Single Pot Still whisky. The historic event marks the first in a century for a Scotland-based distillery. The company is producing a line of special spirits edition called PrinLaws Collection.
Nonetheless, very few people have heard of single pot still whisky, and even fewer have tried it. Have you? On the other hand, you may have already tried it, without knowing. Here is some tidbit that might help.
What Is Single Pot Still Whisky?
Single pot still whiskey is distilled following an Irish whisky tradition. The spirit is made by blending a mixture of malted and unmalted barley. It is almost like a single malt whiskey except that it includes unmalted barley in the mash.
In addition, the distilling process occurs in a pot still. This is an older apparatus used to distill liquors. Some distilleries still use it to make whisky or brandy. The image at left shows an example of a single pot still.
What Makes Pot Still Whisky Different?
Besides the already stated difference of the unmalted barley, there are not many differences in ingredients. However, what sets the single pot whisky apart is the taste. A single pot has a more distinct spiciness; an essence with a grainy texture, and a crispy cereal flavor. There are no similarities in other types of Irish whiskey.
However, InchDairnie has taken the experiment one step further. The distillery has combined the Irish tradition with Scottish art to produce a Scottish Pot Still whisky. The distillery’s founder, Ian Palmer, stated:
“We’ve bridged the traditions between Scotch and Irish whisky to create a truly innovative whisky that I’m sure will delight drinkers in the years to come.”
So far, the company’s experimental PrinLaws Collection has produced two similar spirits to its edition. The production rhythm seems to be one each year since 2021.