Killowen Bulcán Irish Poitín – Part 1 – Still Strength

Killowen Bulcán Irish Poitín Part 1 – 50% Peated Oats, 50% Peated Barley. This Poitin is older than whiskey, older than moonshine; Bulcán was the ancient drop of choice at Irish funerals and wakes, so here’s to the dead & buried. Due  to the huge oat content, this spirit is extremely viscous, massively reducing alcohol burn. The drinkability of the spirit at such a high strength is most deceiving, resulting in an unexpected ‘knock to the head’ or ‘Bulcan’.

Nose
The first sensation is of a huge sweetness which is later established as a bag of liquorice all-sorts. It is quite floral, like honeysuckle while bridging these notes is treacle, wheaten bread (or brow bread as they call it in the south) with a hint of pulled pork or other salty meat.

Palate
Again, liquorice all-sorts are in abundance. Custard cream biscuits in a bowl of custard on one hand with white desert wine and white grapes on the other.  All this sits on a very lathery texture thanks to the oat’s oily goodness.

Finish
Chocolate somehow enters the well-balanced flavour party here with the returning white grape, there is a sensation of a barnyard along with a fresh bread finish. In the end there is a real warming in the chest that is most comforting, a heat that somehow escaped the palate thanks again to the oily goodness of the oats.