Words: Shamim de Brún
The Powerscourt Distillery Single Malt costs fifty-five euros. It’s now and is available at selected stockists nationwide, and if you can’t find it, head to their online store.
Whiskey lovers and connoisseurs, get ready for a new experience that’s a century in the making. The Powerscourt Distillery has made history with their latest release. It’s a hundred per cent Malt. A hundred per cent distilled on the Powerscourt Estate. And according to their press release, a hundred per cent “Wicklow in a bottle”.
According to John Cashman, the head of New Product Development for The Powerscourt Distillery and local Wicklow man from Rathdrum, the First Fercullen Single Malt release takes authentic inspiration from their unique location. He adds that it’s a great honour to be involved in the inaugural release of a whiskey that was entirely distilled in Powerscourt Distillery. Cashman says the whole team is exceptionally proud of this key milestone in their story. Especially their first employee and Senior Distiller, Johnathan Graham, who, alongside their founding Master Distiller, supervised the first distillation in 2018. And the award-winning Master Distiller, Paul Corbett, has curated the final liquid – a sensational single malt worthy of the title “Spirit of Wicklow.”
But let’s not just take their word for it. Let’s talk about the whiskey’s complex flavour profile. It boasts a nose filled with toffee, baking spices, vanilla, dessert apples, pears, soft leather, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baked buttered pastry crusts. On the palate, enjoy rich notes of vanilla custard, soft oak, salted caramel, digestives, and tarte tatin. Followed by a warming finish complemented by oak spices, soft leather, honeyed almonds, and stewed fruits. Yum.
This latest whiskey release is a testament to The Powerscourt Distillery’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. The team are constantly pushing boundaries and setting new standards in the whiskey world.
And if you’re wondering where the name “Fercullen” comes from, it’s the anglicised name for ‘FeraCulann’. The Irish name given to the ancient and strategically important lands surrounding Powerscourt Estate. Translated, it stands for “Men of Cuala” or “Men of the Wicklow Mountains.”
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