Volcanic Wine Awards | The Jancis Robinson Story | 🎁 25% off annual & gift memberships

Pot in the pink – the renaissance of Irish pot-still whiskey

Tuesday 27 May 2025 • 1 min read
Brendan Carty of Killowen in County Down

From just two distilleries in the 1980s to nearly 40 today, Irish pot-still whiskey is back in a big and exciting way. Above, Brendan Carty of Killowen distillery in County Down (image courtesy of Killowen).

The lights came on in sequence, each strip illuminating a further recess of the arched brick cellar. Two parallel vaults, both empty. Brick and mortar dust, faded chalk scrawls. We were in Dublin’s Fitzwilliam Lane, under a medical centre. The tunnels ended on the fringes of Merrion Square, once the most fashionable address in the city.

If you want to know about the rise and...

Become a member to continue reading

Celebrating 25 years of building the world’s most trusted wine community

In honour of our anniversary, enjoy 25% off all annual and gift memberships for a limited time.

Use code HOLIDAY25 to join our community of wine experts and enthusiasts. Valid through 1 January.

Member
$135
/year
Save over 15% annually
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
  • Access 285,213 wine reviews & 15,798 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
 
Ideal for collectors
  • Access 285,213 wine reviews & 15,798 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
  • Access 285,213 wine reviews & 15,798 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
  • Access 285,213 wine reviews & 15,798 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Pay with
Visa logo Mastercard logo American Express logo Logo for more payment options
Join our newsletter

Get the latest from Jancis and her team of leading wine experts.

By subscribing you agree with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.

More Drinks not wine

Heather Tillott of Sullivan's Cove
Drinks not wine A wine-first approach is opening up a new whisky world. Above, Heather Tillott, distillery manager at Tasmania’s Sullivans Cove. I...
Isle of Raasay by Christina Kernohan
Drinks not wine Head to the Hebrides to take in a raft of new distillers working to bring life and traditions back to...
whisky supertanker in rough seas
Drinks not wine Our whisky specialist argues that what’s needed is something genuinely different and quality at a sensible price – and offers...
Wilfred's non-alcoholic aperitif
Drinks not wine What to drink when you love flavour but don't want to drink alcohol. It’s around early September that the onslaught...

More from JancisRobinson.com

Mercouri peacock
Tasting articles More than 120 Greek wines tasted in the Peloponnese and in London. This peacock in the grounds of Mercouri estate...
Wine Snobbery book cover
Book reviews A scathing take on the wine industry that reminds us to keep asking questions – about wine, and about everything...
bidding during the 2025 Hospices de Beaune wine auction
Inside information A look back – and forward – at the world’s oldest wine charity auction, from a former bidder. On Sunday...
hen among ripe grapes in the Helichrysum vineyard
Tasting articles The wines Brunello producers are most proud of from the 2021 vintage, assessed. See also Walter’s overview of the vintage...
Haliotide - foggy landscape
Tasting articles Wines for the festive season, pulled from our last month of tastings. Above, fog over the California vineyards of Haliotide...
Leonardo Berti of Poggio di Sotto
Tasting articles Following Walter’s overview of the vintage last Friday, here’s the first instalment of his wine reviews. Above, Leonardo Berti, winemaker...
JancisRobinson.com team 15 Nov 2025 in London
Free for all Instead of my usual monthly diary, here’s a look back over the last quarter- (and half-) century. Jancis’s diary will...
Alta keg dispense
Nick on restaurants A new restaurant in one of central London’s busiest fast-food nuclei is strongly Spanish-influenced. Brave the crowds on Regent Street...
Wine inspiration delivered directly to your inbox, weekly
Our weekly newsletter is free for all
By subscribing you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.