A new Powers has been released in celebration of a pub I have never been in. Details:
Powers Irish Whiskey and the iconic The Long Hall celebrate the pub’s 250th Anniversary with an exclusive, limited edition Single Cask Release.
The Long Hall on South Great George’s St is one of Dublin’s oldest and most loved pubs. With its iconic Victorian interior that has been preserved so well, the pub offers charm and originality in spades. The opulent mahogany and mirror details date from an 1881 refurbishment, but the first license was granted in 1766, making 2016 the 250th anniversary of the pub.
The Long Hall is currently owned and operated by Marcus Houlihan, and has been in the Houlihan family for 44 years, having previously been owned by his parents Gerry and Carmel Houlihan. Through their research they have found this to be the longest time the pub has been in the one family in its 250 year history.
Twenty five years after the opening of the premises, James Powers established his distillery nearby at John’s Lane in 1791 and began producing his distinctive pot still style whiskey, with its complex and spicy flavour. To this day, Powers Gold Label is regarded by many as the quintessential Irish Whiskey.
To mark the occasion of The Long Hall’s 250th birthday, Powers have commissioned an exclusive, limited edition Single Pot Still expression. Powers ‘The Long Hall’ Single Cask Release has been hand selected by Master Blender Billy Leighton, in collaboration with The Long Hall. It bears the hallmark spicy flavours of Powers, complemented by the creamy mouthfeel which is a key characteristic of Irish Pot Still whiskey. A finishing in American bourbon barrels adds to the complexity and allows the distillate driven style to shine.
Powers ‘The Long Hall’ Single Cask Release will be available exclusively from The Long Hall.
Tasting Notes –
Nose: Bold Pot Still Spices of cinnamon and orchard Fruits give way to a zesty citrus finish balanced with charred oak and a touch of black peppercorns.
Taste: Initial vanilla sweetness and green pepper is given an edge by a hint of chili oil reflecting the Pot Still style. A hint of citrus introduces some softer fruit for unique taste complexity bound with American Oak tones.
Finish: The Pot Still spices linger ending in a combination of wood and barley.
IDL previously released a Powers tie-in with The Temple Bar – so here are some pics from the launch some years ago:
They also released a special edition to celebrate the brand’s long association with transatlantic travel, one of my favourites in the range, apart from the John’s Lane release, an unfuckwithable classic. But if these suggestions don’t tickle your fancy, there is always these new releases from Walsh Whiskey:
Walsh Whiskey Distillery has released its 2016 cask strength vintages for both of its super premium whiskeys – The Irishman & Writers’ Tears. Both releases are very limited with 1,800 bottles of The Irishman & 2,640 bottles of Writers Tears’ available in just 14 countries between them worldwide (The Irishman is available in 11 and Writers’ Tears in 8 countries).
The Irishman Cask Strength 2016
A rare cask strength expression (54% ABV), limited to only 1,800 bottles, each of which is uniquely numbered and signed by founder Bernard Walsh. The Irishman Cask Strength 2016 is a vatting of Single Pot Still & Single Malt, matured in first-fill bourbon casks. Non chill-filtered, it was bottled in September 2016 and is presented in an elegant wood cask.
Describing this year’s cask strength release of The Irishman, Bernard Walsh said: “This rare cask strength expression is matured and aged in oak bourbon casks that I personally hand-selected to showcase the pinnacle of Irish whiskey. This whiskey is ripe, full and elegant. Delicate forest fruits dovetail with mellow spices and orchard berries, all giving way to a long gentle finish of barley and dark chocolate bursting with complexity and flavour. I hope the lucky few who acquire this release enjoy every moment.”
The Irishman Cask Strength 2016 is available in just 11 countries including Ireland, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Luxembourg, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the USA.
The RRP is €120.
Writers’ Tears Cask Strength 2016
Writers’ Tears Cask Strength 2016 is a triple-distilled blend of aged Single Pot Still and Single Malt Whiskey from casks of the finest selected distillates. It is non chill-filtered at 53% ABV and carefully aged in bourbon barrels. Bottled in September 2016, it is limited to only 2,640 bottles worldwide and each bottle bears its own unique number and the signature of Walsh Whiskey Distillery founder Bernard Walsh.
Introducing the 2016 vintage of Writers’ Tears Cask Strength, Bernard Walsh described this very limited release as follows: “To me it presents elegant and luscious notes of poached pear, sweet barley and creamy oak. It offers the palate hints of white chocolate and red fruit and, to finish the experience, we get delicate mandarin tones with oak powering through single pot still spice. I am proud to commend it to old and new followers of Writers’ Tear alike.”
Writers’ Tears Cask Strength 2016 is available in just 8 countries, namely: Ireland, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Holland, Poland, and Ukraine.
The RRP is €120.