Poitín, anglicised as Poteen or Potcheen is a traditional Irish distilled, highly alcoholic beverage - 60%-95% ABV, (alcohol by volume). Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot-still and the term is a diminutive of the Irish word pota, meaning 'pot'. The ingredients would be malted barley grain or potatoes. It is one of the strongest alcoholic beverages in the world (renowned for its ability to get the drinker intoxicated again the following morning by drinking water and thereby bringing the remaining ethanol back into solution), and for centuries was classified as illegal in Ireland.
Irish moonshine, along with all other private distillation not specifically licensed by the state, was outlawed in 1661. On 7 March 1997, the Irish Revenue Commissioners withdrew their opposition to poitín being sold in Ireland, though legal production for export has been allowed since 1989.
Poitín was generally produced in remote rural areas, away from the interference of the law. A wash had to be created and fermented before the distillation began. A wash for 100 gallons of fresh water was said to contain six stone (84 lb) of potatoes, six stone of sugar and some yeast. Stills were often set up on land boundaries so the issue of ownership could be disputed. Prior to the introduction of bottled gas the fire to heat the wash was provided by turf. Smoke was a give-away for the Gardaí so windy, broken weather was chosen to disperse the smoke. The still had to be heated and attended to for several days to allow the runs to go through. In later years the heat was provided by gas and this reduced the chances of being discovered while distilling.
The quality of poitín was highly variable, depending on the skill of the distiller and the quality of his equipment. If poorly produced it can contain dangerous amounts of methanol and can blind or kill. In 2007, samples were found to contain chicken droppings.
Whilst distilling poitín was a source of income for some, mostly it was produced in order to have a cheap alcoholic drink, popular at weddings and wakes where a large supply was at hand. Farmers often administered it (and still do) as a cure for sick calves and other farm animals. While not used as widely as it used to be, poitín is still available. It was not uncommon for communities to leave the distilling of to widows, in order to grant them a source of income.
Many traditional Irish folk songs, such as The Hills of Connemara and The Rare Old Mountain Dew, deal with the subject.
An old Irish poem goes:
Now learned men who use the pen have wrote your praises high.
That sweet Poteen from Ireland green, distilled from wheat and rye.
Throw away your pills, it will cure all ills of Pagan, Christian, or Jew.
Take off your coat and grease your throat with the real old mountain dew.
