Green Spot (whiskey)
Encyclopedia
Green Spot is a pot still
distilled Irish whiskey
, produced specifically for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, by Irish Distillers
at the Midleton Distillery
, Cork
, Ireland. It is one of the only remaining bonded Irish whiskeys, and is currently the only brand specifically produced for and sold by an independent wine merchant in Ireland.
Green Spot was described by whiskey writer Jim Murray
as "unquestionably one of the world's great whiskeys."
Bow Street Distillery was supplying Mitchell & Son with at least 100 sherry
hogheads of pot still distilled whiskey per annum.
Half of the casks used had previously held oloroso
and other darker sherries, while the other half had held lighter fino
s. This was to prevent the wine from overpowering the whiskey. The whiskey was allowed to mature in the casks for five years, before being vatted and allowed to blend and mature for a further five years. It was then bottled and sold as a ten-year-old.
The blend was originally known as "Pat whiskey", and the labels carried the logo of a man on a green background. This soon lead to the name "Green spot".
When Jameson
moved production from Bow St. to Midleton
, the make up of the whiskey altered for the first time in living memory. This coupled with low stocks of maturing whiskey led Mitchell & Son into an agreement with Irish Distillers
, whereby the whiskey would be matured by the distillery in their own casks, with Mitchell & Sons having sole rights to market, sell and develop the whiskey.
Only 200 cases, (approximately 1200 bottles) are produced each year, most of this is sold through Mitchell and Son's shop in Dublin. As a result, it is difficult to obtain outside of Ireland, except in specialist retailers.
Pot still
A pot still is a type of still used in distilling spirits such as whisky or brandy. Heat is applied directly to the pot containing the wash or wine . This is called a batch distillation ....
distilled Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey
Irish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
, produced specifically for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, by Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French drinks conglomerate Pernod-Ricard S.A.. It was acquired in 1988 in a friendly takeover.-History:...
at the Midleton Distillery
New Midleton Distillery
The Midleton distilleries complex is situated outside Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. It is owned by Pernod-Ricard. Located alongside is the Old Midleton Distillery which was established in the early 17th century.-History:...
, Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland. It is one of the only remaining bonded Irish whiskeys, and is currently the only brand specifically produced for and sold by an independent wine merchant in Ireland.
Green Spot was described by whiskey writer Jim Murray
Jim Murray (writer)
Jim Murray is an English writer and journalist. He is best known for his observations on whisky and his annually updated book on the subject, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.-Life:Murray was born in Merstham, Surrey...
as "unquestionably one of the world's great whiskeys."
History
Mitchell & Son wine merchants, were established in 1805; however, it is uncertain exactly when Green Spot was first produced. It is known though, that by the 1920s Jameson'sJameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson is a single distillery Irish whiskey produced by a division of the French distiller Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
Bow Street Distillery was supplying Mitchell & Son with at least 100 sherry
Sherry
Sherry is a fortified wine made from white grapes that are grown near the town of Jerez , Spain. In Spanish, it is called vino de Jerez....
hogheads of pot still distilled whiskey per annum.
Half of the casks used had previously held oloroso
Oloroso
Oloroso is a variety of sherry produced by oxidative aging. It is normally darker than amontillado and has a higher glycerine content, which makes it smoother and less dry. Oloroso is usually dark and nutty....
and other darker sherries, while the other half had held lighter fino
Fino
Fino is the driest and palest of the traditional varieties of sherry. They are drunk comparatively young, and unlike the sweeter varieties should be drunk soon after the bottle is opened as exposure to air can cause them to lose their flavour within hours.-Flor:The defining component of Fino...
s. This was to prevent the wine from overpowering the whiskey. The whiskey was allowed to mature in the casks for five years, before being vatted and allowed to blend and mature for a further five years. It was then bottled and sold as a ten-year-old.
The blend was originally known as "Pat whiskey", and the labels carried the logo of a man on a green background. This soon lead to the name "Green spot".
When Jameson
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson is a single distillery Irish whiskey produced by a division of the French distiller Pernod Ricard. Jameson is similar in its adherence to the single distillery principle to the single malt tradition, but Jameson combines malted barley with unmalted or "green" barley...
moved production from Bow St. to Midleton
Midleton
Midleton, historically Middleton , is a town in south-eastern County Cork, Ireland. It lies some 22 km east of Cork City on the Owenacurra River and the N25 road, which connects Cork to the port of Rosslare...
, the make up of the whiskey altered for the first time in living memory. This coupled with low stocks of maturing whiskey led Mitchell & Son into an agreement with Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French drinks conglomerate Pernod-Ricard S.A.. It was acquired in 1988 in a friendly takeover.-History:...
, whereby the whiskey would be matured by the distillery in their own casks, with Mitchell & Sons having sole rights to market, sell and develop the whiskey.
Current Day Production
The current Green spot is slightly younger than the original. It is a blend of seven and eight year old pot still whiskey, 25% of which has matured in sherry casks.Only 200 cases, (approximately 1200 bottles) are produced each year, most of this is sold through Mitchell and Son's shop in Dublin. As a result, it is difficult to obtain outside of Ireland, except in specialist retailers.
Pure pot still whiskey
Green spot is one of the few pure pot still whiskey brands produced today (along with Redbreast whiskey). Note that all single malts are also purely from a pot still, but are generally distilled twice, whereas the whiskeys used for pure pot still whiskeys are generally distilled three times. Pure pot still whiskeys use partially unmalted barley so they can not be technically called a single malt.See also
- Irish WhiskeyIrish whiskeyIrish whiskey is whiskey made in Ireland.Key regulations defining Irish whiskey and its production are established by the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, and are relatively simple...
- Irish whiskey brands