The eponymous Irish whiskey from The Pogues, whose Celtic take on punk took rock by storm in the ’80s, is now available to band fans and finer whiskey lovers alike in the US, after rolling out in the UK last fall. The exceptionally full bodied, yet smooth-finishing blend, is produced by West Cork Distillers, one of only two remaining independently owned and operated distilleries in Ireland.
Having sampled their share of brown spirits over the years, the band, known for Fairytale in New York and other hits, was deeply involved in the creation of The Pogues Irish Whiskey from start to finish. Rich with the band’s legendary spirit, character and poetic rebelliousness, The Pogues Irish Whiskey is a unique blend of 50% 10-year single malt Irish whiskey aged in sherry casks and 50% 5-7 year Irish grain whiskey aged in bourbon oak casks. The resulting liquid has an aroma of malts and cracked nuts, with a sweet taste and a smooth, intense flavor.
Notably, West Cork is Ireland’s only whiskey producer to still malt its own barley, enabling exceptional precision and control over flavor profile.
“It’s been brilliant working with the team at West Cork Distillers in creating a whiskey that we all think reflects our spirit and energy, and that we all enjoy the taste of,” said Shane MacGowan along with Pogues band members, Jem Finer, Andrew Ranken, Spider Stacy,James Fearnley, Terry Woods, and Darryl Hunt. “It’s wonderful to add a product bearing our name to the ranks of great Irish whiskeys, and we think it will stand the test of time.”
The Pogues Irish Whiskey is distilled using ingredients indigenous to Ireland, including locally grown grain and spring water from the idyllic River Ilen. It’s carefully crafted in small batches in handmade copper stills at West Cork’s distillery in Skiberdeen, the cultural home of Irish whiskey.
“The Pogues Irish Whiskey represents the ideal blending of tradition and quality from our friends at West Cork, and the rich Irish heritage and culture of the band,” said Justin Shaw, VP of Brand & Market Strategy at MS Walker. “We can’t wait for American aficionados of the band and whiskey, new and old, to enjoy their first taste.”
The Pogues Irish Whiskey (40%ABV) is imported into the United States by MS Walker, and is available just in time for St. Patrick’s Dayat bars, restaurants and retailers throughout the country. Suggested Retail Price: $39.99 for 750ml. Assets, including product sheet, videos and images, can be downloaded here. For more information visitwww.thepoguesirishwhiskey.com.
