Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey – Review

Powers Gold Label Irish WhiskeyPowers Gold Label Irish Whiskey

80 Proof

Price Point: $15 – $25 for 750 ML

Distiller: John Power & Son

 

Background

Ireland has a lot of iconic brands that are known worldwide (I outline some of them in a previous post).  Powers Gold Label is one of those, and one that you may think is just another Irish whiskey not worth trying.  Even the packaging downplays the whiskey – the three birds on the label indicate that the drinker should not sip this whiskey, but rather finish the glass in “three swallows”.

 

Review

The nose is distinctively Powers – a pot still characteristic comes through strongly.  It’s not necessarily smoky; maybe charcoal?

The taste is actually pretty flavorful (surprising for an Irish, right?).  Powers is a step above the average Irish.  It’s malty, dark and deep, and pretty interesting.

This stuff is the closest Irish to a Scotch in terms of finish – bravo Powers!

 

Rating & Recommendations

I enjoy this whiskey, probably more than I thought I would, which is why I rate it a solid 82 out of 100.

Powers Gold Label is one of the better Irish whiskeys, and hardly a whiskey to finish in “three swallows”.

 

-Ryan

2 comments

3 pings

    • Will Powers on October 18, 2015 at 6:50 pm
    • Reply

    I love single malt scotch typically, but this Powers gold label really suprised me. The aroma and the flavor is terrific. I would recommend it to any scotch drinker. It’s especially fun, because my name is on the label.

    • Delbert on December 7, 2018 at 5:58 pm
    • Reply

    It was my go to whisky for most of the 1990-2000’s when I could get it for $8-12 but now in Pa the price is $28. I agree it has the same quality of the better scotches without the peak reek, which for my taste buds is a huge plus. It has to be one of the richest and smoothest Whiskies I have ever had but….. I am cheap. Compared to many other highly marketed whiskey’s, Powers is almost worth the high price. Especially, at a time when most are just a shell game in a fantasy bottle cased with this and that flavoring….including the flavoring of old barrel Whiskey. As ridiculously trendy and expensive as most all Whiskey’s are right now, California and Argentinian Brandy….well I can get used to it as a fine libation at $12-14. …least until the price of Whiskey comes down. Remember when Calvados and Barolo, and Vouvrays were dirt cheap and I.W. Harper was a fine Bourbon at $2.19 a bottle. LOL

  1. […] dissect.  Even re-discovering old whiskeys has its thrills – I recently bought a bottle of Powers Gold Label (something I had had before), and quickly discovered its pot still influence, something I had not […]

  2. […] you’re serious about Irish whiskey, do yourself a favor and buy Powers or Connemara.  If you still want to give Jameson a chance (and don’t mind spending an arm […]

  3. […] are single malt.  On the contrary, many of Ireland’s most popular brands, including Jameson, Powers, Paddy, and Kilbeggan, are blends.  There are some single malts, but they are few and far […]

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