Poteen

[Ed]

Helllo All,
I saw a bottle of "Poteen (Moonshine) Now legal!" in the discount today. It said that it had been illegal since 1631, but now this finest of all spirits was leagal and available. Well, I didn't get it but intend to. Has anyone had this or other products? What did you think?
Ed

[rthomson]

I don't know much about poteen other than that I've read that it's been legal for production for export since around 1990 but legal to produce to sell within Ireland since only around 1997, it's former illegality having the usual effects on myth and desirability. I've also heard the pronunciation is "puh-cheen". The name comes from it having been produced in small pots, don't know what that indicates for commercial producers.

I haven't come across a bottle and don't know anyone who has tried any of the newly available versions. I'd be interested in your evaluation so I encourage you to experiment for us

Ron

[richard]

i tasted poteen along side doug mcivor at millroys many years ago
i drank it neat it smelled orangey or jaffa cakes the only problen m drinking it neat it was still in my throat about half an hour later it felt like it was cleaning my throat of any residue in it hope this helps

richard

[Deactivated Member]

Would a knowledgeable person be so kind as to tell us what poteen is, exactly, and any history or other information that seems relevant? I crave education.

[richard]

if i am right it is whisky made from potatoes thats all can remember


richard

[bernstein]

I won't by no means indicate, that I'm a knowledgeable person, but googling around I found the following link

http://www.irish-poteen.com/tradepress_harpers3.html

In short, poteen seems to be a triple-distilled grain or potato spirit. It comes in three strengths 60%, 70% and 90% ABV. Sounds to me like a german "Korn" though. Now I can imagine, why "apparently, the Church was not amused" ...

[akallio]

I don't know anything about the subject, but that doesn't stop me from answering...

Poteen seems a bit like grappa - the better it is, the farther it is from the original ("real") stuff. So I guess if you find a really good poteen, it has very little to do with the drop they made illegally back then.

But that was just guessing...

[lexkraai]

I have heard rumours that some of the commercially available bottlings of poteen are nothing more than neutral spirit mixed with flavours. I've tasted a few of them next to 'real' poteen (i.e. from someone actually making the stuff in Ireland) and there is no comparison. The commercial bottlings I tasted were all sickeningly sweet, cologne-like. The 'real' stuff is harsh firewater, but has a lot more flavour and tastes 'honest' rather than 'chemical'.

For what it's worth!
Lex

[Ed]

Hello All,
Hello Lex,
That would have been my guess, however, I don't think I will be able to find the real deal here in Japan. Still, I will give the commerial stuff a go one of these days. My St. Pat's day dram will be Jameson's 12 yo. and maybe a bit of BlackBush.
Ed

[Aidan]

Poteen is still illegally produced in Ireland and can be made from potatoes, turnips or grain. Mostly it's clear in colour, but sometimes it's kind of brown.

I'm not sure how the commercially available stuff is made.

We always had some floating about the house in a soft drinks bottle, and my father was a member of the Gardai.

[Deactivated Member]

Aidan, I take it your dad didn't make the stuff. Do you know anything about the process, as far as the home distiller is concerned? I'm not looking for a how-to (that would be illegal! ), I'm just curious.

[Aidan]

Tattie

I don't know if the stuff I had was made from grain or potatoes. My dad didn't make it, but he would have had access to it as he is from the west.

I belive the make a brew with the potato liquids and distill it in a fairly basic still, pouring water over a kind of bulb where the alcohol is condensed. I don't know if they run this through the still again or not.

There are lots of stories of people going blind from drinking it, but who knows if this is true.

I think Peter Mulryan, who occasionally writes for Whisky Magazine, is writing a book on the subject.

[Paul A Jellis]

Having tasted both commercial and 'shed-made' poteen, I think I'll stay away from both, the first was far too sweet and sticky and general not very nice, the second, the 'real thing' had me away with the faries!!!! Don't drink it if you plan to drive withing the next ten days!! It rots the brain!!

Cheers

Paul

[Aidan]

Paul

There is a huge variation in the different poteen you can get, but you're right, they may be best avoided.

They say if you drink water with them, it makes you even more intoxicated. Not sure it this is true.

[Aidan]

By the way - is moonshine the same as poteen?

[akallio]

Yep, they are the same. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?tit ... edirect=no

[rthomson]

By the way - is moonshine the same as poteen?

They're illicitly made (at least that's how they gained their reputations), high alcohol distillations. So, in spirit ( ) they're the same. I believe poteen primarily (exclusively?) was distilled from potatoes while several different ingredients may have served for the base of moonshine. I've seen some old recipes that called for putting cheap wine into the pot still.

Ron

[Aidan]

Here's a picture of a poteen still



I just remembered that I live beside a pub called The Poteen Still in Rathcoole. It has a rather large on on display.

[Deactivated Member]

Wow...that's pretty basic. I'm trying not to get ideas....

[Aidan]

You could make an even simpler version using a Adidas Rom for the still and a Henry Wintermans Cafe Creme cigarette tin for a condenser. Just add spuds.

[Ed]

Hello All,
I have wanted to make whiskey since I was about 14 years old. I read about how the old timers used to make moonshine (100% corn whiskey, even the malt was corn) back in the Appalachian mountains in "Foxfire One". Of course, I haven't done it. I want to see what it takes to get a license to run a still here in Japan. Or see if they will hire me at the Yoichi distillery.
Ed

[PoteenUK]

I would not suggest making it, it is much easier and safer to buy it. Have a look at http://www.Poteen.co.uk much easier

[bscepter]

i had real poteen when visiting my mother in ireland in 1989. she lived in county mayo in a little town called ballycroy. we were at the local and some old guy whom she knew gave me a very small bottle under the table and told me to drink it when i got home.

i had a sip - it was like drinking a hospital.

[Onefortheditch]

I was told Highland poteen tastes like a combination of alcohol, diesel, meths and sheep’s pish and is best avoided. I was also told the makers of it call it liquid sunshine!! Personally I’ve never tried it nor felt the need to seek it out!