As discussed last week I have been tasked to give a layman’s view of my 10 favorite whiskeys which we sell. My first was a real beauty – Redbreast 12yr old (my personal favorite). Today I write about green spot single pot still – my number 2.

A rainy, wet, cold night. I have lit a fire of turf and blocks. Just me, my aged mother and Jessie the dog – in dog years as old as my mum. The rest of the family are all out working. The smell of the turf, the blaze of the blocks and a double green spot in hand – life doesn’t get much better than this.

Green Spot is a 100% pure pot still whiskey, a combination of malted and unmalted barley, aged between 7-9 years and can trace its roots back to the early 20th century. Distilled in Midleton distillery Cork for wine merchants Mitchell and Son. It is one of just a few old merchant Brands that are still available. It’s sister brands ‘Blue Spot’ and ‘Red Spot’ no longer available, although ‘Yellow Spot’ has been revived (certainly worth a visit)

Green Spot is a tremendous whiskey, giving a sweet honey feel, slightly oily, gently spicy and oaky on the nose and maybe a taste of ginger. Possibly one of the lighter whiskeys in Midleton’s Pot Still range. But all in all – a beauty. Some say best with a little water, but I say neat. Sure if it needed more water the distiller would have put it in. Made in very limited quantities it is highly prized by whiskey drinkers in the know. Try it, you won’t be disappointed. Maybe I should try another!

The Green Spot name orientated from the Mitchell family’s practice of marking casks of different ages with a dawb of colored paint. Originally ‘Blue Spot’, ‘Red Spot’ but green emerged as their more popular short.

Try it. It really is a cracker.

– The Whiskey Chancer