Review / Powers Irish Rye

This new addition to the Powers core range is the first ever Irish whiskey to be made from 100% Irish rye. The release comes following trials at the Midleton distillery in Co. Cork, where Powers is distilled and matured alongside other well know brands such as Jameson and Redbreast. It has used an archive recipe uncovered by Carol Quinn, the Senior Achivist at Irish Distillers. As part of the trials Irish Distillers commissioned the planting of rye crops at Cooney Furlong Farm in Co. Wexford. This was chosen due to its proximity to the ancestral home of the Powers family - Edermine House.

Powers is one of best known and biggest selling names in Irish whiskey and has a rich heritage. The Powers distillery was founded in 1791 by James Power in Dublin. James' son John later joined as distillery manager and in 1809 the name was changed to John Power & Son. Powers were one of the first distilleries to follow the now-traditional Irish practice of triple distillation. 

They were also one of the first in the world to sell in single bottles to customers, rather than by the cask. This began in the 1860s and the distillery remained in the Power family until 1966. Then John Power & Son became founding members of Irish Distillers alongside Cork Distilling Company and John Jameson & Sons. They rebuilt the Midleton distillery to serve their needs and it remains the largest in Ireland with an annual capacity of nearly 30 million litres.

Powers Irish Rye is bottled at 43.2% ABV and will be initially released through specialist retailers in selected markets including Ireland, the UK and the USA. It will also be available in Dublin Airport and via www.powerswhiskey.com before seeing a wider world release. A bottle will cost €40/ £32/ $US32.

Our tasting notes

The whiskey is bright gold in colour and the nose is deliciously sweet and spicy. Aromas of golden syrup, toffee and milk chocolate mingle with earthy cereals and white pepper. There is also a distinct aroma of maraschino cocktail cherries and a hint of gingerbread.

On the palate this whiskey continues its intriguing mix of sweet vs. spice. The golden syrup and toffee lead the way alongside the expressive maraschino cherry note. The cherry adds a luscious juiciness to proceedings. Then comes some gripping oak spice - think of vanilla with some charred and toasted woodiness thrown in. 

Underneath are hints of bitter orange oil, clove and white pepper. It is now less peppery than the nose initially suggested. Further background notes of earthy cereals, stewed apple and banana bread loaf add depth and complexity. A final hit of drying woodiness and warming gingerbread round things off nicely.

The finish begins sweetly but becomes spicier and more drying with time. The golden syrup, chocolate and luscious fruitiness fade to give an earthier and robust feel. The cereals and warming peppery spices come to the fore before before the drying oak sweeps in right at the end.

What's the verdict?

The Powers Irish Rye is delicious and surely opens up a whole new category of Irish whiskey. The balance between the sweetness and earthy spiciness is exquisite. Powers may be the first to release a 100% Irish rye whiskey, but they certainly will not be the last. Watch this space.

The result is a softer version of an American or Canadian rye that is lovely when sipped neat. It would also be excellent in a traditional rye cocktail such as a Manhattan. Well done to Irish Distillers for making this experiment work and for keeping the price at an affordable level.