Review: Powers Irish Rye

While Irish whiskey is typically crafted from a blend of grains — predominantly barley — with this bottling Powers takes things in an unusual direction. As the name suggests, this is a 100% rye whiskey, column distilled at Midleton and aged for 4 to 5 years in a mix of virgin American oak, first-fill, and second-fill casks.

Let’s dig in.

Powers Irish Rye Review

This whiskey is immediately interesting for the way it effectively blends the styles of a classic Irish whiskey with a spicy, American style rye. The nose is quite hearty, in contrast to the often wispy, ephemeral Irish style, a mix of bracing herbs, sweeter baking spice, and honeyed cereal grains all hit the nose together. There’s also more of a pure wood influence here than in a traditional Irish, with notes of almond and apple wood lingering with time in glass.

The palate does not change the script much, kicking off with notes of almond and sesame, then a layer of melon, more cantaloupe than honeydew. The whiskey turns rather grassy from that point, quite fresh with overtones of lemon and bright baking spices. Notes of pastry cream infused with cinnamon offer a boldly dessert-like midpalate, though the sweetness is moderated. The experience oscillates — some herbaceousness, some sweeter tones, then back again — until it lands on the finish with the essence of almond croissants.

All told, it’s a wholly atypical Irish whiskey — and, perhaps, all the better for it.

86.4 proof.

A- / $35 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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