Poitín is an Irish strong alcoholic beverage with 40-90% alcohol content, traditionally distilled from barley, potatoes, molasses, and other ingredients. It originated in Ireland and was historically produced illegally.
How it is made
Poitín is distilled in a small copper pot still from a mash made from barley, potatoes, molasses, beets, and other ingredients. The traditional production method involved illegal distillation in remote areas to avoid detection by authorities.
History
The name poitín comes from the Irish word 'pota' meaning small copper pot. Production and sale were banned in Ireland from 1661 to 1989, with the prohibition still in effect in Northern Ireland. Since 1989, poitín has been legally produced for export, and domestic sales were allowed from 1997. In 2008, it received Protected Geographical Indication status.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Потин (напиток), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.