@Powers_Whiskey is one of the oldest whisky names in Ireland, founded as a small pub distillery in Dublin in 1791 by innkeeper James Power and his son John. By 1822 John and his son had taken over the business.
The distillery expanded over time, moving location and by 1871 was producing 700,000 gallons a year. In 1886 Power began bottling their own whiskey, rather than selling it to bonders, the first Dublin distillery and one of the first in the world to do that. Each bottle had a gold label which was where the name Powers Gold Label originated.
Irish distillers initially avoided the use of Coffey stills prefering to stick with their Pot Stills but in 1961 Powers installed one at their John's Lane Distillery, they produced grain whisky for blends as well as gin and vodka.
Prohibition in the United States, the Anglo-Irish Trade War and the rise of competition from Scotch whisky found the Irish distillery industry struggling and in 1966 Powers merged with Jameson and the Cork Distilleries Company to create Irish Distillers. By 1976 they'd each closed their own distilleries having moved production to a new distillery in Midleton. Powers Gold Label and many other Irish whiskeys were reformulated from single pot stills whiskeys into blends.
Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling and fall as slow thin legs. Initial nose : orchard fruit.
Nose: loads of sweet honey smothered over orchard fruit - apples and pears with a little hint of dry apricot. A little air and the spice starts to come through - cinnamon and brown sugar - almost a shortbread note - nice!
Palate: sweet arrival, watered syrup and spicy cinnamon. Vanilla and citrus note from the grain - must be quite different from when it was 100% Pot Still? The orchard fruit from the nose are there - pears and apples again but the drying note isn't. This is smooth sweet and spicy - a good entry level 40%er
Finish: long warming cinnamon spice, a little syrupy sweetness and a touch of oak. Nice!
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Appearance: dark gold in the glass, swirls cling for a while before falling as slow thin legs. Initial nose: oaky spice
Nose: oaky spice, barley, cereals and orchard fruit. This doesn't have the sweet note of the Gold Label and the spice isn't as strong on the nose - it's more fruity and complex. A little more air and there's an almond nuttiness alongside the fruit - maybe turning tropical? Some butterscotch notes and a little icing sugar.
Palate: super smooth syrupy arrival, a little sweetness but not as much as the GL. Orchard fruit & citrus fight on the tongue - apples, pears , lemon & lime. A slightly drying effect and no real spice to talk about - Wow this is good - very pleasantly surprised!
Finish: long lingering orchard fruit, a little oak spice and the barley from the nose is back - Yummy!
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Appearance: again dark gold in the glass, swirls cling for ages form beads as an inverted crown and eventually fall as slow thin legs. Initial nose: Tropical fruit
Nose: musty bookshop, leather, strawberry jam, tropical fruit notes. There's some dried fruit and dark chocolate notes too - nice! A little air and butterscotch notes come to the fore - sweet like the GL but this one seems thicker - if that's possible in a smell!!!!
Palate:thick syrupy arrival, a huge hit of gingery spice and a little sweetness. I could almost swear there's a touch of smoke there too? The orchard fruit & citrus character of Powers is there but this is more complex adding dried fruit - sultanas, figs dates. A few more sips, it's running out rapidly, and the honey sweetness is starting to show through more than the spice. A little tropical fruit now - dried pineapple covered in icing sugar?
Finish: Oaky / gingery spice with a drying powdered sugar note. The orchard fruit is there too. Nice!
Other tweeter's thoughts:
So a great night with 3 great whiskies! Many thanks to @talkdram and @thatsdramgood for the opportunity to try these drams!
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