Poitín

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Poitín is an Irish moonshine and may also refer to Irish Whiskey. (IPA [ˈpˠocʲiːn], anglicized as putcheen) or formerly potheen (IPA [ˈpɒtiːn] but in Ireland [ˈpɔtʃiːn]). The term is a diminutive of the word pota 'a pot'; Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot.^{[citation needed]}

For centuries, Poitín has been produced in pot stills under the bright moon, and because of this, came to be known as the shine or moonshine. The home brew is often strong and some market labels are as strong as 80% volume (160 proof). It has a distinctive dry and grainy flavor with a delicate aftertaste that becomes sweeter as it develops. Some rural Irish people still pour it on wounds and sores as they believe it to have disinfectant properties, and with as high an alcohol volume as it has, it certainly does.

This legendary Irish moonshine was outlawed in 1760 and has only recently been legalized for consumption again in Ireland, though legal production for export has been allowed for quite some time.^{[citation needed]} It is now available in collectors' off licences. However, 'legal versions' of poitín are of a greatly reduced volume, and are not seen as 'the real thing'.^{[citation needed]}

More precisely, in 1661 King Charles II introduced a levy on spirits in the United Kingdom. In Ireland however it was totally ignored, but ninety nine years later the Crown tried again by outlawing private distillation unless specifically licensed by the State.^{[citation needed]} Overnight a large proportion of the Irish population became "criminals" as has anyone who has distilled it privately since.^{[citation needed]}