Glendalough Pot Still 750ML

Glendalough Pot Still 750ML is a triple-distilled Irish single pot still whiskey bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof) in a 750ml bottle. A gold medal winner at both the New York International Spirits Competition and Meininger's International Spirits Award (ISW), this expression distinguishes itself through a finishing period in virgin Irish oak casks sourced from 140-year-old trees harvested in the Wicklow mountains surrounding the distillery.

Quick Facts: ABV: 43%  |  Origin: County Wicklow, Ireland  |  Single Pot Still  |  Distillery: Glendalough Distillery

Production & Heritage

Glendalough Distillery operates in County Wicklow, a lush region southeast of Dublin known as the "Garden of Ireland." This pot still whiskey follows traditional Irish methodology, using a mashbill of two parts unmalted barley to one part malted barley — the hallmark grain ratio of the single pot still category. The spirit is triple distilled in copper pot stills, then aged for three years in ex-bourbon casks before receiving an additional maturation of up to one year in virgin Irish oak. Those finishing casks come from oak trees roughly 140 years old, grown in the Wicklow mountains near the distillery, and each bottle is numbered and traceable to the specific tree used to make its cask — a detail few distilleries worldwide can match.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet vanilla and caramel open first, followed by citrus, banana, and a drizzle of treacle. Beneath the sweetness sit earthy, herbal undertones — leather, oak spice, and a trace of lemongrass.

Taste: The entry is gentle and creamy, with caramel and vanilla taffy meeting a grassy, malty backbone. Mid-palate, dried apple and pine nut emerge alongside a moderate kick of clove and black pepper. The texture stays round and slightly oily, balancing candy-like sweetness against peppery spice and copper-tinged cereal grain.

Finish: Medium in length, tapering through mild baking spices and a bakery-sweet warmth. Light honey and a faint nuttiness linger alongside a subtle oak dryness from the virgin Irish wood.

How to Drink Glendalough Pot Still

Neat or with a few drops of water is the best way to appreciate the virgin Irish oak influence and the creamy pot still character. The 43% ABV holds up well over a single large ice cube for those who prefer a chilled pour. In cocktails, try it in a Gold Rush — the honey-lemon combination amplifies the whiskey's natural honeyed sweetness. It also works in a Whiskey Sour, where the creamy mouthfeel adds body without heaviness, and in an Irish Coffee, where the vanilla-caramel core and gentle spice complement dark-roast coffee and brown sugar.

Best For

• Introducing a single pot still newcomer to the Irish pot still category
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values traceable, terroir-driven production
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or cheese courses
• Building an Irish whiskey collection beyond the mainstream blends

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Glendalough Pot Still taste like? It delivers a creamy, medium-bodied profile led by caramel, vanilla, and dried apple, with a moderately spicy backbone of clove and black pepper. The virgin Irish oak finish adds a distinctive layer of gentle wood spice and light honey.

How does Glendalough Pot Still compare to Redbreast 12? Redbreast 12 is a 12-year-old single pot still aged primarily in sherry and bourbon casks, giving it a richer, dried-fruit-forward character. Glendalough Pot Still is younger and leans more toward fresh, grassy, and spice-driven notes, with its virgin Irish oak finish providing a terroir element that Redbreast does not feature.

Is Glendalough Pot Still good for sipping neat? Yes — at 43% ABV and triple distilled, it is smooth enough to drink neat while still carrying enough complexity from the pot still mashbill and dual-cask maturation to reward slow sipping.

Where is Glendalough Pot Still made? It is distilled at Glendalough Distillery in County Wicklow, Ireland, a mountainous region southeast of Dublin. The virgin Irish oak used for finishing is also harvested from the Wicklow mountains surrounding the distillery.

What foods pair well with Glendalough Pot Still? Aged cheddar or Comté cheese highlights the whiskey's nutty, caramel notes. Smoked salmon complements the creamy texture and peppery spice. Apple tart or bread pudding echoes the dried apple and bakery-sweet finish. Roasted pork belly pairs well with the clove and oak spice character.

What sizes does Glendalough Pot Still come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Glendalough Pot Still worth the price? It positions as a mid-range Irish single pot still whiskey, sitting below longer-aged expressions like Redbreast 12 while offering a distinctive virgin Irish oak finish and tree-traceable provenance that add genuine value within its price tier.

Why Glendalough Pot Still?

The defining differentiator here is the virgin Irish oak finishing — casks made from Wicklow-grown trees roughly 140 years old, with each bottle traceable to a specific tree. That level of provenance is exceptionally rare in Irish whiskey. Combined with the traditional 2:1 unmalted-to-malted barley mashbill and triple pot still distillation, the result is a whiskey that connects the single pot still tradition directly to its local terroir. Gold medals at both the New York International Spirits Competition and Meininger's ISW confirm it delivers on more than just story — the liquid stands on its own.