🥃 Powers
Irish whiskey brand whose story begins with the John's Lane distillery in Dublin, opened by James Power in 1791; a brand of Irish Distillers (Pernod Ricard).
Powers is an Irish whiskey brand whose story goes back to 1791, when James Power opened the John's Lane distillery just off Thomas Street in Dublin. Today the brand belongs to Irish Distillers, part of Pernod Ricard. According to the producer, Powers is known for triple-distilled single pot still whiskey and for discarding more of the top and tail of the distillate than other Irish whiskeys.
History. According to the producer, James Power was an innkeeper who distilled on the side until the popularity of his whiskey led to a distillery at John's Lane in 1791. The brand appeared at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and the distillery brought bottling in-house before other distilleries did.
How it is made. According to the producer, single pot still whiskey is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, triple-distilled in copper pot stills. Powers is matured mainly in second- and third-fill American oak casks and blended with grain whiskey.
Range. The producer's range includes Gold Label, John's Lane Cask Strength, Irish Rye, Three Swallow and John's Lane, matured for 12 years. Strength and age depend on the version and the market, so check the label.
Why it matters to you. Versions of Powers differ in style, so read the full name on the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1791, James Power, John's Lane, Dublin |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | malted and unmalted barley (single pot still); grain whiskey in the blend |
| Distillation method | single pot still — triple distillation in copper pot stills |
| Cask type | mainly second- and third-fill American oak casks |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Pernod Ricard
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry, 🥃 Ex-bourbon barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Irish Grain Whiskey, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Irish Whiskey, 🥃 Blended Irish Whiskey
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Jameson, 🥃 Redbreast, 🥃 Bushmills
Frequently asked questions
Where did Powers begin?
At the John's Lane distillery just off Thomas Street in Dublin, opened by James Power in 1791, according to the producer.
Who owns Powers?
Irish Distillers, which has been part of Pernod Ricard since 1988.
What is Powers Three Swallow?
According to the producer, a single pot still whiskey made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, triple-distilled in traditional copper pot stills.
What is distinctive about the way Powers is made?
According to the producer, more of the top and tail of the second and third charges is discarded than usual, and the whiskey is matured mainly in second- and third-fill American oak casks.
Which versions of Powers are there?
The producer lists Gold Label, John's Lane Cask Strength, Irish Rye, Three Swallow and John's Lane, which is matured for 12 years.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🍷 Sherry — Protected wine from the Jerez de la Frontera area of Andalusia, aged in oak casks in the solera system; 14 to 22 % alcohol.
- 🌍 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.
Similar
🥃 Midleton Very Rare · 🥃 Paddy · 🥃 Tullamore Dew · 🥃 Cooley · 🥃 Redbreast · 🥃 Jameson
⚠️ 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
- Powers official site: Our Story (James Power, John's Lane distillery 1791 just off Thomas Street, Dublin; Chicago World's Fair 1893; in-house bottling)
- Powers official site: Our Process (triple-distilled single pot still from malted and unmalted barley in copper pot stills; mainly 2nd and 3rd fill American oak; blended with grain whiskey)
- Powers official site: Our Whiskey (Gold Label, John's Lane Cask Strength, Irish Rye, Three Swallow, John's Lane 12 years)
- Irish Distillers: About Pernod Ricard (joined Pernod Ricard in 1988)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I, category 2 (whisky/whiskey)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)