Powers on the Double. One old, the other relatively new. Each a winner.

Powers on the Double. One old, the other relatively new. Each a winner.

Powers Gold Label Whiskey 40%

Not too sure when this Powers Gold Label, with the Three Swallows on the neck, was bottled. I recently “rescued” it from a small stash in a cool shed and, while the labels have a few bits missing, the liquid itself is fine. It is full-bodied and has the sweet spicy honeyed flavours. Spice, sweetness and oak and the malt of course all combine to make this whiskey a real pleasure.

The back label encourages you to enjoy it neat, with water or with your favourite mixer. “Power’s fuller flavour makes it ideal for Irish Coffee or Hot Whiskey.”

The front label tells us it has distinctive pot still character; was triple distilled, and matured in oak casks.

Back in 1791…the Power family founded their distillery in John’s Lane and so began the history of Ireland’s biggest selling whiskey.

Powers was one of the first distilleries in the world to bottle its own whiskey. Quality was always to the fore and it was because of concerns that the “brand” was being damaged that led to the founder’s grandson deciding to bottle their own, rather than have it bottled exclusively by middlemen or publicans. And this was where the gold label started; it indicated that the whiskey inside was bottled by the distillery.

That, by the way, was in 1866, about 100 years before Jameson bottled. Powers were always innovative and their release of the miniature bottle, the “Baby Powers”, was a world first. Indeed, if I’m not mistaken, there is a collection of Baby Powers in the distillery on Midleton.

Powers '3 Swallow' Release 40% ABV

Colour has more gold than its older cousin. Honey, spice, citrus and some toast from the oak feature in the aromas. On the palate, bananas and exotic fruit flavours, along with spices, all figure in this smooth and easy-drinking whiskey. The spice continues all the way through to the smooth finish.

This release is regarded as a “value for money buy” in the single pot-still range. Aged predominantly in ex-Bourbon casks with a small amount in ex-Oloroso sherry barrels.

Powers themselves say Three Swallow Release is a modern expression of what the original Powers Whiskey tasted like "back in the days of our John’s Lane distillery. This quintessential style of whiskey, Single Pot Still is exclusive to Ireland, and is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills”.

So which is the best? This release, the modern expression, is undoubtedly the smoother of the two but, for me, the older bottle has that bit more character and gets the verdict, on points! To be honest, I wouldn't say no to either.

It is widely available and priced in the mid 40s. I didn’t buy a bottle but, as a member of their Hip Flask Club, I got mine filled with close to 180mls (6 ozs) at Bradley’s, North Main St, Cork.