Poitín

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Poitín (or Poteen) 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]}

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 for its disinfectant properties which, with as high an alcohol volume as it has, it certainly has.

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]}

[edit] Music

• The traditional Irish folk song "The Hills of Connemara" is about poitin.
• Poitin is mentioned in the traditional Irish folk song "The Rare Auld Mountain Dew"
• Poitín is also mentioned (along with Laudanum) in the song "The Snake With Eyes Of Garnet" by Shane MacGowan (Shane MacGowan and The Popes) on his 1994 album, The Snake.