Killowen Distillery launches a limited edition (192 sets only will be released) premium series of poitín made up of five unique bottlings, aptly named Cuige. Killowen have set out to demonstrate that poitín can be premiumised and deserves to be a serious contender in the spirits world. The peated poitín set is presented on a hand-crafted pedestal, carved from a Killowen whiskey cask.
The Cuige Story
A spirit representing Ireland’s history and present, acknowledged her historical five provinces by finishing a unique poitín, in five different firkin casks from five select breweries, each representing those old provinces. The Irish word ‘Cuige’ meaning ‘provinces’ or ‘Fifths’ originated prior to the cessation of Meath as a province in the early 1600’s.
Those chosen breweries are
Dead Centre Brewing representing ‘Meath’ using an Imperial Stout cask
Mescan Brewery representing ‘Connaught’ using a Westport Red Tripel cask
O’Brother Brewing representing ‘Leinster’ using a Dreamcatcher IPA cask
Whitewater Brewing representing ‘Ulster’ using a Belfast Black Stout cask
West Kerry Brewery representing ‘Munster’ using an Imperial Stout cask
This unique peated mash bill offers a little more oat than Killowen’s core mash-bill, as a tribute to the integral part oat has played in Irish distillation history. After a 24-hour flame-fed, double-distillation, and worm-tub condensation, the spirit is laid in casks at full strength for 10 weeks, as is the maximum allowable time by law. Each bottle is painstakingly, hand-filled, hand-labelled, wax-dipped, and hand-written. Each set has its own unique rustic pedestal made from a Killowen cask stave which has been, heat-straightened, carved for bottles, engraved with the Killowen Cuige Logo and wax finished. This release truly is ‘Very Rare’. As usual, all your information is on the Killowen Label.
The names and Images for each bottle come from different locations carrying particular affection to Killowen Distillery, and places which Killowen think signify each Cuige.
Ulster: ‘Donard’ – The highest mountain in The Mournes – God’s country
Munster: ‘Mish’ – The Slieve Mish range to the east of Dingle peninsula
Connaught: ‘Lutty’ – A remarkably beautiful & remote part of Galway
Leinster: ‘Duff’ – Duff Hill – middle of the mighty Wicklow Mountains
Meath: ‘Caillí’ – Sliabh na Caillí – largest peak in Meath
View our video feature of Killowen Distillery here.
Read more about Killowen Distillery in issue 10 of our publication.
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