A History of Pride & Poitín-Blog

Irish Poitín, a spirit with many tales, but what is the history behind the infamous Irish spirit? Read below and discover where Poitín comes from, its evolution, hardships & eventual triumph into the 21st century!

Irish Poitín (moonshine) is a traditional Irish spirit that has triumphed its turbulent past.
The origins of Poitín making can be traced back to the monks who once occupied numerous monasteries around Ireland. Like the Benedictine monks of the nearby Fore Abbey, the method of fermenting grain into a beer and further distilling it gave rise to this fine alcohol. This spirit called “aqua vite” or in Irish “uisce beatha” was used by the monks as a medicinal disinfectant and rub. However, the spirit soon became popularly enjoyed for its intoxicating qualities.

In 1536, King Henry VIII of England discontinued such monasteries and the spirit production expanded beyond its religious and medicinal roots. The spirit quickly shifted to informal production by Irish farmers and recreational use. Ranging from 40% ABV up to an astonishing 90% ABV, Englishmen raised a concern for unruly behaviour as a result. Legislation then came into effect in 1556. This saw the requirement for Poitín producers to have a valid licence, often only available to the wealthy and powerful.

With many Irish producers unable to meet financial requirement of this licence, and disfavour of crown orders, they continued production and sale illicitly. In this period of Poitín making, many farmers used potatoes as the starch source to produce the spirit & is still heavily remembered today. Alongside this, the Irish word “Poitín” means “little pot”, which refers to the small pot stills in which these farmers gave rise to the spirit.

In 1661, Poitín was outlawed by English landowners who sought to tax the Poitín production. In 1775, the loss of revenue to illegal Poitín meant sizeable distillers forcibly had to pay duty and smaller producers were eradicated.

It only became legal to produce Poitín again in 1997. Contrary to its stigma, Poitín has been revitalised and is thriving in the Irish and global markets. Now using a local recipe inspired by the Benedictine monks of the nearby Fore Abbey, our Fore Valley Poitín is a smooth, full body Poitín is distilled using premium malt barley, oats and the local spring water of Fore.

So why not give Fore Valley Poitín a shot and experience the triumph in every sip!