“Smuggling Nun creator Maura Clare first read about Poitín when she was in her late teens, growing up in the very Irish-American town of Fairfield, Connecticut. She was immediately intrigued. Maura mentioned her curiosity about Ireland’s ancient distilled spirit to her cousin, an Irish Franciscan Nun, who was planning a trip back home. Sister Mary became determined to procure a sample. She not only hunted down the poitín, which was illegal at the time, she smuggled it back to the U.S. in a holy water bottle.
Years later, when Maura began researching Poitín in earnest, a friend of a friend made a quiet introduction to a retired bootlegger-farmer in the Glens of Antrim, whose Poitín-making methods originated with the famous Michael McIlhatton.” – Smuggling Nun
Maura spent seven years trying to perfect the Smuggling Nun recipe, which is distilled by Copeland Distillery in County Down.
Let’s back the delivery truck up because if you’re like many whiskey drinkers, you’ve probably never heard of Poitín. I’m happy to tell you all about it.
Firstly, Poitín is Gaelic for “little pot” and has been around much longer than whiskey. The first recorded instances were in the 6th century! Always created in a single pot still, Poitín is kind of like vodka and sort of like moonshine, but really is neither. It is made from potatoes, cereal grains, sugar beets, whey, or molasses.
Throughout its history, Poitín has been on-again, off-again legal to make. Parliament only made it illegal in 1661 because it was too difficult to collect taxes. Any illicit pot still hidden on an Irish farm could be used to make Poitín, and of course, the underground network of friends and relatives kept the liquid flowing.
A little over 300 years later, in 1997, Poitín was once again legal to produce. Distilled between 40% and 90% ABV (80° to 180°), Poitín is a geographically-protected class of spirits that must come from Ireland. It is also considered a specialty drink, not one that’s overly common for bars to stock.
Today is not my first foray into this Irish beverage; I reviewed Mad March Hare in 2022, but I’ve not even seen another Poitín until now, and I’m thankful for this #DrinkCurious opportunity that Smuggling Nun has provided (along with the sample) in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.
- Spirit Type: Irish Poitín
- Age: Unaged
- Mashbill: Irish Malted Barley, Beet Sugar, and Molasses
- Cooperage: N/A - Unaged
- Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
- Price per 750mL: $39.99
Appearance: I poured Smuggling Nun into my Glencairn glass to explore neat. The liquid was crystal clear, almost like water. The thin rim generated medium-spaced, thick, fast, syrupy tears.
Nose: As I brought the Poitín beneath my nostrils and started sniffing, there was a healthy dose of the buttered popcorn that many white dog whiskeys exude. Then came fresh-cut grass, cream, and cashews. I encountered confectioner's sugar when I inhaled the vapor through my lips.
Palate: Smuggling Nun’s mouthfeel was buttery. The first things I tasted included barley and brown sugar. Midway through, I found limestone and lemon peel. The back consisted of ginger spice and cashews.
Finish: A soft vegetal quality formed. The ginger spice was warming; the limestone was evident. Those flavors melded nicely and parked on the front and middle of my tongue. I timed the finish at 1:08, making for a medium duration.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: At 90°, I had expected a punch of alcohol; however, that didn’t materialize. Instead, I found the Poitín to be an easy sipper. While Smuggling Nun isn’t a whiskey, it could easily appeal to seasoned whiskey drinkers looking for something a bit different. It would also be an appropriate toe-dipping excursion for those who are Poitín-curious.
Speaking of that, I found Smuggling Nun superior to Mad March Hare; part of that could be Maura’s recreated recipe from Michael McIlhatton; it could be the higher proof (there was a full 10-point difference) or a combination of both.
With such an uncommon spirit (at least in the United States), which is proofed respectably and reasonably priced, there’s a lot to like about Smuggling Nun. It deserves my Bottle rating. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
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