Volcanic Wine Awards | The Jancis Robinson Story | Mission Blind Tasting

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

• 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 or log in to continue reading
Member
$135
/year
Save over 15% annually
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
  • Access 294,783 wine reviews & 16,081 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
 
Ideal for collectors
  • Access 294,783 wine reviews & 16,081 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 294,783 wine reviews & 16,081 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 294,783 wine reviews & 16,081 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

incense burning in a Japanese temple
Drinks not wine The magic of mizunara-aged whisky – and the patience it requires to realise it. ‘This is very special’, Seiichi Koshimizu...
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...

More from JancisRobinson.com

female urban hands each holding a glass of wine - Shutterstock
Free for all Pauline Vicard asks, can wine still justify its cultural relevance? The answer to this question, rather than economics, may become...
Thomas Walk Vineyard in Kinsale
Free for all Jancis is put in her place, by the hybrid grapes of the Emerald Isle. A shorter version of this article...
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier bottle and glass of wine outdoors, on table with books
Wines of the week A summer-ready, silky white wine that’s widely available from just $8.99, £20.90 . The sleeper hit of Napa winery Pine...
Split Rail vineyard
Tasting articles Part 4 of an exploration of California’s westernmost vineyards. Above, the Split Rail vineyard in Corralitos (credit: John Benedetti)...
Fernando Mora MW and Mario López of Bodegas Frontonio
Tasting articles A close look at three of Zaragoza’s most important projects. Above, Fernando Mora MW (left) and Mario López of Bodegas...
Ungrafted monastrell vines in Jumilla
Free for all 4 June 2026 In advance of the 2026 Old Vine Conference on 8 June, we’re republishing this overview of our...
Acered vineyard
Tasting articles To celebrate Aragón’s new map in the upcoming World Atlas of Wine , Ferran explores the wines of Zaragoza. Above...
Alexandre Delétraz's (Cave des Amandiers) vineyards in Valais @ Leif Carlsson
Tasting articles Red, white, young, old – there’s no shortage of diversity or deliciousness available in Swiss wines. You just need to...
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.