Powers Irish Whiskey recently announced the stateside debut of its latest expression, Three Swallow, a modern representation of what the original Powers tasted like back in the days of its original John’s Lane distillery.
Distilled at Irish Distillers’ famed Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Three Swallow is a perfect example of the traditional Single Pot Still style. Crafted from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, Three Swallow is then matured in 2nd and 3rd fill, American bourbon barrels before finishing in aged sherry casks. At first sip, the initial taste delivers rich, smooth nutty flavors followed by a wave of green apple and citrus notes – with a touch of cedar wood for extra complexity. Spicy sweetness floats atop, balanced with a hint of sherry casks, leading to a crisp cereal finish with notes of toasted oak.
The name Three Swallow is deeply engrained in the distillery’s history and has several meanings. John’s Lane, was known for incredibly high standards, including that of its horse stables and coaches. Each coach had three coachmen – a driver and assistant up front, and another at the rear. Coachmen were accustomed to bringing a small flask of Powers on long rides, with just enough whiskey to give each man a good swallow, but not enough to interfere with his job. In addition, the migration of the Irish Swallow signifies the beginning of the distillation season in Ireland, and Powers has historically used two or three swallows to signify the age, quality, and purity of their pot still products.
