What is Poitin?
Poitin can be spelled in many different ways Poitin, Potcheen or Potheen. Poitin is a traditional Irish high percentage distilled drink.
It is referred to as An Uisce Beatha or Holy Water and is Irish Moonshine. It derived its name from how it is distilled in small pots, in Irish Pota.
A fun fact about Poitin is that the Irish (Gaelige) word for hangover is Poit.
Nearly every farmhouse in Ireland had a bottle of it on a top cupboard hidden away from sight, as it was illegal.
Local Gardai (Irish Police Force) spent much of their time looking for illegal stills.
Poitin became legal in 1997 depending on its alcoholic percentage, but it is still illegal in Northern Ireland.
Where does Poitin come from?
Real Potin can only be brought and distilled in Ireland, it is completely Irish. The EU granted Geographical Indicative Status, which means that legally real Poitin can only come from Ireland.
It is said to be the strongest drink in the world. Poitin can now by bought legally in many locations around Ireland, this Potin has a percentage of 40%, however the Poitin that is still illegally distilled can be as strong as 90%, to say it’s a strong drink is a huge understatement.
Recipes were handed down through generations.
They were different depending on which family was producting the Poitin. Poitin was also produced in the United States in the emerging Irish Diaspora in the 19th Century, and area in New York City known, as Irishtown was famous for their production of Poitin.
About 5 companies in Ireland produce Poitin.
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How is Poitín made?
Poitin was mainly made in the remote rural areas of Ireland and was a highly sought after commodity.
A wash had to be created before the distiller began the process of producing Poitin.
The distillers sometimes placed their stills on the boundary areas of lands so they had the option of denying ownership.
Traditionally distilled in small pots or Pota. The fires to heat the Poitin were fueled by peat or turf from local bogs.
A windy day was said to be the best time to light the fires. The reason for this is that the distilleries would not be seen by the Gardai as the smoke from the fires were a dead giveaway.
It took several days for the distilling process to work but the end results were usually unbelievable strong liquor.
Poitin was traditional made using whatever was available at that particular time of the year in Ireland. Ingredients were what was available at the time.
Mainly potatoesm barley, crab apples, sugar beet or molasses. The quality of the Poitin produced depended on the skill of the distiller and the quality of the family recipe.
It is said that Poitin can cause blindness but it is also said that Poitin can relieve arthritic pain when rubbed into joints.
The History of Poitin
There is no definite historic record of how Poitin came to Ireland but it is said in local folklore that monks made Poitin in the 6th century.
Charles II did put a tax on Poitin during his reign to raise money to pay his army during the English Civil War. In Ireland the Pot Still Act was introduced in 1771 to curb the wastage of corn to produce Poitin.
The production of Poitin officially became illegal in 1779 when the licensing of distillers came into law, making private distilleries illegal.
A long history of Poitin production carried on in Ireland and quite possibly still does. Those still producing Poitin have not changed their production methods for centuries.
Many songs were written about Potin icluding The Hills of Connermara and The Rare Old Mountain Dew.
Poitin is mentioned in a song produced by Shane MacGowan called Snake with Eyes of Garnet. Poitin is also mentioned in a song called Mcllhatton written by Bobby Sands.
The Irish musician Christy Moore has also preformed many of these songs.
Where Can I Buy Poitín?
You’ll always hear an Irish person say the best Poitín is the home-brewed but there are a few companies taking the lead in it’s production.
Glendalough Distillery can deliver but they do require ID and some countries may be restricted for delivery.
Visit here for more information – https://shop.glendaloughdistillery.com/
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