Country: Ireland Distillery: Midleton
Type: Pot Still
Age: NAS (5-7 years rumored)
Cask: Ex-Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry
ABV: 43.2%
Proof: 86.4
Price: $43
Nose: Citrus, vanilla, hay, overripe fruits, heather, cut ginger
Palate: Oily, caramel, honey, apple, nutty notes, allspice.
Finish: Peppers, vanilla, toasted oak, copper bitterness
The brand tells the story of The Powers family coachmen as they are telling about Powers Three Swallow Irish Whiskey. The coachmen and three stable of horses. To keep themselves warm in cold Irish winters, the three coachmen would each take a sip from their hip flask. "Three swallows. One quality story."
That is indeed a great story and a great marketing point for this whiskey. Three people around a hip flask, to get warm, ease the work conditions, have some joy in the blood. That actually sets the expectations for the whiskey. I am now expecting something simple, but delicious!
About The Whiskey
Powers Three Swallow Irish Whiskey is a triple distilled single pot still whiskey. That means both malted and unmalted barley are used in production. Want to know more about the styles of whisky? Take a look at Whisky Or Whiskey?
There are so many beautiful styles of whiskey made at Midleton Distillery and Powers is one of them. They have also changed their packaging and I loved the new one.
The whiskey is aged in ex-Bourbon barrels for an undisclosed amount of years (rumored is 5-7 years) and made it to the bottle at 43.2% abv. A small portion of the spirit is also matured in Oloroso Sherry barrels.
How Does It Taste?
Simple and delicious! My expectations were actually true. The nose offers a citrus burst, then vanilla hay, overripe fruits, heather and cut ginger. The palate is very oily with caramel, honey apple, nutty notes and allspice. It doesn't have layers and layers of flavors, but it has everything just at the right amount.
The finish is peppery with vanilla, toasted oak and copper bitterness, which sounds odd but it is actually pretty lovely.
Verdict
A beautiful start to a bar evening, or after work whiskey (I have to check if it works with #WFH(. Simple but hitting the right points. There is no roughness, no-fault and it is beautifully crafted. For $40-45 price range it is a must try.
