Poitín

Poitín is an Irish Whiskey- (IPA [ˈpˠocʲiːn], anglicized as poteen or putcheen) or formerly potheen (IPA [ˈpɒtiːn] but in Ireland [ˈpɔtʃiːn]). The term is a diminutive of the word pota 'a pot'; Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot.

For centuries, Poitín has been produced in pot-stills under the bright moon, and because of this, came to be known as moonshine. The home-brew was strong, and had a distinctive dry grainy flavour with a delicate aftertaste that became sweeter as it developed.

This legendary Irish moonshine was outlawed in 1760 and has only recently been legalised for consumption again in Ireland, though legal production for export has been allowed for quite some time. It is now available in collectors' off licences. However, 'legal versions' of poitín are of a greatly reduced volume, and are not seen as 'the real thing'.

More precisely, in 1661 King Charles II introduced a levy on spirits in the United Kingdom. In Ireland however it was totally ignored, but ninety nine years later the Crown tried again by outlawing private distillation unless specifically licensed by the State. Overnight a large proportion of the Irish population became "criminals" as has anyone who has distilled it privately since.