🥃 Irish Poteen
A protected name for clear, unaged spirit from the island of Ireland, made from grain, potatoes, whey or beet molasses; at least 40 % vol.; for centuries it was distilled illicitly.
Irish Poteen, or Irish Poitín, is a clear, unaged spirit distilled on the island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland. It is made from grain, potatoes, whey or beet molasses. The name is a geographical indication: the technical file was registered by the European Commission on 27 March 2019.
Name and history. The word poitín comes from the Irish pota, meaning pot: a small pot still. According to the technical file, from 1661 to 1997 production was illegal because of excise rules, so it was distilled secretly in remote villages. Stills were made of tin, since copper was expensive, and fires were lit with peat on windy days so the smoke would not be noticed.
Rules. The raw materials, at least half of which must be Irish, are fermented and distilled on the island of Ireland to no more than 94.7 % vol. Traditionally these are small pot stills, but hybrid and column stills are also used now. Filtering through activated charcoal is forbidden, to keep the taste of the raw material. Strength is at least 40 % vol., and some versions reach 90 %.
Style. The technical file describes poitín as a clean, light yet powerful spirit with notes of raw and cooked grain, fruit esters and spices. It may be infused with local berries, fruit and herbs, and poitín made from at least two kinds of raw material may be kept in wooden casks for no longer than 10 weeks.
Why this matters to you. Legal poitín is a product with a label and checks by Revenue, not moonshine: homemade spirits can contain dangerous impurities. High-strength versions are very strong. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Raw material | grain (barley, malt), potatoes, milk whey, beet molasses; at least 50 % Irish raw material |
|---|---|
| Distillation method | small pot stills, also hybrid and column stills; up to 94.7 % vol.; no filtration through activated charcoal |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40 % vol., some versions up to 90 % |
| Minimum maturation | not required; casks allowed for no more than 10 weeks |
| Legal basis | technical file for Irish Poteen/Irish Poitín, registered by the European Commission on 27.03.2019; Regulation (EU) 2019/787 |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Irish Poteen → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky, Potato, 🧀 Whey
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Spirits
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 🍸 Vodka, 🥔 Potato vodka
Frequently asked questions
Is Irish Poteen still banned?
No. The ban applied from 1661 to 1997; today poitín is legally produced by distilleries, and the name is protected as a geographical indication.
What is Irish Poteen made from?
From grain (usually barley and malt), potatoes, milk whey or beet molasses; at least half of the raw material must be Irish.
What strength is poitín?
At least 40 % vol.; some versions reach 90 %. It is distilled to no more than 94.7 % vol.
How does poitín differ from Irish whiskey?
Whiskey is aged in casks for at least 3 years, while poitín is unaged; casks are allowed only for up to 10 weeks.
What does the word poitín mean?
It comes from the Irish pota, meaning pot, that is, a small pot still.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky — Malted barley is the base of whisky: malt enzymes convert starch in the mash, and EU whisky is distilled below 94.8% vol.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🍸 Vodka — Spirit drink made from ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin: in the EU from 37.5% vol., sugar up to 8 g/l, methanol up to 10 g/hl.
- 🥃 Irish Whiskey — Geographical indication of the island of Ireland since 1989: whiskey distilled and matured for at least 3 years in Ireland or Northern Ireland.
Similar
🥃 Estonian Vodka · 🥃 Emsländer Korn · 🥃 Inländerrum · 🥃 Whisky d’Alsace (Alsace whisky) · 🥃 Breton whisky (Whisky de Bretagne) · 🥃 Cassis de Saintonge
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Technical file setting out the specifications with which Irish Poteen/Irish Poitín must comply (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; registered by the European Commission 27.03.2019): raw materials cereals, potatoes, whey, sugar beet molasses; distilled ≤ 94.7 % vol.; min. 40 % vol.; illicit 1661–1997; macerations and infusions; casks ≤ 10 weeks
- Drinks Ireland (Ibec): Irish Poitín — one of Ireland's three spirit GIs; producers follow the 2019 technical file; verified by Revenue; all-island GI recognised in the EU and the UK
- Revenue (Ireland), Tax and Duty Manual: Geographical Indication for Irish Whiskey & Irish Poteen — verification procedures (reviewed 09/2026)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)