The Pogues

This one will have you screaming punk’s not dead!

We imagine that when the legendary Celtic punk band the Pogues were looking for a name, it went something like, okay, we like the message of "kiss my arse", and in Gaelic, it’s "póg mo thóin", which sounds quite alright. And so became the Pogues, the iconic punk band that beside politically tinged lyrics liked to sing I am going, I am going, Where streams of Whiskey are flowing… A band with a vision.

No wonder West Cork Distillers, an independent distiller in Skibbereen in West Cork, Ireland, was inspired by their punkness and wanted to make a Whiskey with just as much character to honor them. Crafted in small batches at the most exposed and southerly located distillery on the Atlantic, this triple distilled blend of Malt and Grain Whiskey has the highest malt content of any Blended Irish Whiskey in the world – there’s 50% Grain and 50% Single Malt liquid. Developed by Master Distillers Barry Walsh and Frank McHardy, only barley and spring water from the Emerald Isles were used.

This extra malty Irish dram is adored for its floral malty notes, roasted almonds and dark chocolate on the nose and a character of citrus, spice, cracked pepper and a hint of sweetness on the palate. It all comes together with a balanced and well-rounded finish that lasts long after Streams of Whiskey has stopped playing. That’s probably one of the reasons it was the Gold award winner three years running at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.