Irish Single Pot Still

Introduction

Irish Single Pot Still (ISPS) is a classic Irish whisky style, distinguished by its use of a blend of malted and unmalted barley, distilled in copper pot stills. This combination gives a complex body with a creamy texture and a distinctive spicy kick, which sets it apart from both single malt and grain whiskies.

Production

• Main component: a mash of both malted barley and unmalted barley.
• Distillation: distilled in copper pot stills, often in several rounds to achieve the balanced combination of clean spirit and preserved body.
• Cask maturation: aged in oak casks of different types, often a blend of bourbon- or sherry-casks, contributing vanilla, caramel notes and spicy complexity.

Flavor profile and aroma

• Aroma: creamy, vanilla, caramel, apple and pear, as well as spices such as cloves and black pepper.
• Taste: spicy and creamy with notes of honey, dried fruits, freshly baked bread and vanilla.
• Finish: long and warm with spices and light oak.

History and significance

Single Pot Still is one of the distinctive Irish whisky categories and traces its origins to the early Irish distilleries. The style is known for its characteristic balance between body and spicy freshness, which comes from the combination of malted and unmalted barley and copper pot distillation.

Serving and food pairings

• Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to open up the aromas.
• Recommended food pairings: spicy dishes, strong cheeses, honey desserts or fruit desserts.

Variations and notes

Depending on the brand, ISPS can be triple- or double-distilled and aged in a blend of casks that impart varying sweetness and spices. Some examples of the style's expressions can be found at different distilleries in Ireland.