Poteen
Poteen
Helllo All,
I saw a bottle of "Poteen (Moonshine) Now legal!" in the discount today. It said that it had been illegal since 1631, but now this finest of all spirits was leagal and available. Well, I didn't get it but intend to. Has anyone had this or other products? What did you think?
Ed
I saw a bottle of "Poteen (Moonshine) Now legal!" in the discount today. It said that it had been illegal since 1631, but now this finest of all spirits was leagal and available. Well, I didn't get it but intend to. Has anyone had this or other products? What did you think?
Ed
I don't know much about poteen other than that I've read that it's been legal for production for export since around 1990 but legal to produce to sell within Ireland since only around 1997, it's former illegality having the usual effects on myth and desirability. I've also heard the pronunciation is "puh-cheen". The name comes from it having been produced in small pots, don't know what that indicates for commercial producers.
I haven't come across a bottle and don't know anyone who has tried any of the newly available versions. I'd be interested in your evaluation so I encourage you to experiment for us
Ron
I haven't come across a bottle and don't know anyone who has tried any of the newly available versions. I'd be interested in your evaluation so I encourage you to experiment for us

Ron
poteen
i tasted poteen along side doug mcivor at millroys many years ago
i drank it neat it smelled orangey or jaffa cakes the only problen m drinking it neat it was still in my throat about half an hour later it felt like it was cleaning my throat of any residue in it hope this helps
richard
i drank it neat it smelled orangey or jaffa cakes the only problen m drinking it neat it was still in my throat about half an hour later it felt like it was cleaning my throat of any residue in it hope this helps
richard
I won't by no means indicate, that I'm a knowledgeable person, but googling around I found the following link
http://www.irish-poteen.com/tradepress_harpers3.html
In short, poteen seems to be a triple-distilled grain or potato spirit. It comes in three strengths 60%, 70% and 90% ABV. Sounds to me like a german "Korn" though. Now I can imagine, why "apparently, the Church was not amused"
...
http://www.irish-poteen.com/tradepress_harpers3.html
In short, poteen seems to be a triple-distilled grain or potato spirit. It comes in three strengths 60%, 70% and 90% ABV. Sounds to me like a german "Korn" though. Now I can imagine, why "apparently, the Church was not amused"

I don't know anything about the subject, but that doesn't stop me from answering...
Poteen seems a bit like grappa - the better it is, the farther it is from the original ("real") stuff. So I guess if you find a really good poteen, it has very little to do with the drop they made illegally back then.
But that was just guessing...
Poteen seems a bit like grappa - the better it is, the farther it is from the original ("real") stuff. So I guess if you find a really good poteen, it has very little to do with the drop they made illegally back then.
But that was just guessing...
I have heard rumours that some of the commercially available bottlings of poteen are nothing more than neutral spirit mixed with flavours. I've tasted a few of them next to 'real' poteen (i.e. from someone actually making the stuff in Ireland) and there is no comparison. The commercial bottlings I tasted were all sickeningly sweet, cologne-like. The 'real' stuff is harsh firewater, but has a lot more flavour and tastes 'honest' rather than 'chemical'.
For what it's worth!
Lex
For what it's worth!
Lex
Poteen is still illegally produced in Ireland and can be made from potatoes, turnips or grain. Mostly it's clear in colour, but sometimes it's kind of brown.
I'm not sure how the commercially available stuff is made.
We always had some floating about the house in a soft drinks bottle, and my father was a member of the Gardai.
I'm not sure how the commercially available stuff is made.
We always had some floating about the house in a soft drinks bottle, and my father was a member of the Gardai.
Tattie
I don't know if the stuff I had was made from grain or potatoes. My dad didn't make it, but he would have had access to it as he is from the west.
I belive the make a brew with the potato liquids and distill it in a fairly basic still, pouring water over a kind of bulb where the alcohol is condensed. I don't know if they run this through the still again or not.
There are lots of stories of people going blind from drinking it, but who knows if this is true.
I think Peter Mulryan, who occasionally writes for Whisky Magazine, is writing a book on the subject.
I don't know if the stuff I had was made from grain or potatoes. My dad didn't make it, but he would have had access to it as he is from the west.
I belive the make a brew with the potato liquids and distill it in a fairly basic still, pouring water over a kind of bulb where the alcohol is condensed. I don't know if they run this through the still again or not.
There are lots of stories of people going blind from drinking it, but who knows if this is true.
I think Peter Mulryan, who occasionally writes for Whisky Magazine, is writing a book on the subject.
- Paul A Jellis
- Gold Member
- Posts: 744
- Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2002 2:01 am
Having tasted both commercial and 'shed-made' poteen, I think I'll stay away from both, the first was far too sweet and sticky and general not very nice, the second, the 'real thing' had me away with the faries!!!! Don't drink it if you plan to drive withing the next ten days!! It rots the brain!!
Cheers
Paul
Cheers
Paul
Aidan wrote:By the way - is moonshine the same as poteen?
They're illicitly made (at least that's how they gained their reputations), high alcohol distillations. So, in spirit (

Ron
Hello All,
I have wanted to make whiskey since I was about 14 years old. I read about how the old timers used to make moonshine (100% corn whiskey, even the malt was corn) back in the Appalachian mountains in "Foxfire One". Of course, I haven't done it. I want to see what it takes to get a license to run a still here in Japan. Or see if they will hire me at the Yoichi distillery.
Ed
I have wanted to make whiskey since I was about 14 years old. I read about how the old timers used to make moonshine (100% corn whiskey, even the malt was corn) back in the Appalachian mountains in "Foxfire One". Of course, I haven't done it. I want to see what it takes to get a license to run a still here in Japan. Or see if they will hire me at the Yoichi distillery.
Ed
Re: Poteen
I would not suggest making it, it is much easier and safer to buy it. Have a look at http://www.Poteen.co.uk much easier 

Re: Poteen
i had real poteen when visiting my mother in ireland in 1989. she lived in county mayo in a little town called ballycroy. we were at the local and some old guy whom she knew gave me a very small bottle under the table and told me to drink it when i got home.
i had a sip - it was like drinking a hospital.
i had a sip - it was like drinking a hospital.

- Onefortheditch
- Silver Member
- Posts: 329
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:48 pm
Re: Poteen
I was told Highland poteen tastes like a combination of alcohol, diesel, meths and sheep’s pish and is best avoided. I was also told the makers of it call it liquid sunshine!! Personally I’ve never tried it nor felt the need to seek it out! 

Re: Poteen
Poteen is made from whey, as fines and confiscation of farm machinery could be imposed when grain sacks were found and illegal poteen distillation was suspected. Farmers started to use whey as no cows were ever known to be confiscated.
http://irish-poteen.com/consumer/consumer_main.html
http://irish-poteen.com/consumer/consumer_main.html
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