Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey

Powers Gold Label is listed here as an Irish whiskey, so expect the style's usual traits: triple-distilled smoothness, a grain-forward body, and no peat smoke. Irish blends like this usually combine pot still and grain whiskeys and are matured in used oak. That tends to give a soft, rounded palate with honeyed malt, green orchard fruit, vanilla and light baking spice. It typically has little of the heavy char or caramel you get from new-oak bourbon, and none of the smoke of an Islay Scotch. The details supplied don't include an official tasting profile or ABV, so take those notes as what the category suggests and check the bottle label for strength. For neat sipping, a Glencairn glass is the right choice. Its tapered rim concentrates the lighter aromas of a whiskey like this, such as fruit, malt and vanilla, which can get lost in a wide tumbler. Pour a small measure and give it a minute before you taste. If it seems tight or spirity, add a few drops of room-temperature water. That usually opens up the grain and sweet notes without flattening them. In a rocks glass over one large cube, the colder temperature mutes some sweetness and brings out the dry, spicy side. That makes it a relaxed way to drink it, though you will lose some of the aromatic detail. In cocktails, the style's softness is an advantage. An Old Fashioned made with Irish whiskey is lighter and gentler than a rye or bourbon version. Use a small amount of demerara syrup and a few dashes of Angostura so the bitters don't overpower the spirit. A Manhattan works too, but choose a lighter sweet vermouth and a dash of orange bitters, because heavy vermouths can bury a delicate blend. In a Whiskey Sour, the fruity, malty profile pairs well with fresh lemon juice. A short shake with egg white gives a fuller texture. For a Highball, use a tall glass of ice, about two ounces of whiskey, and cold ginger ale or soda water, finished with a lemon or orange peel. It is a good way to use the whiskey when you don't want to measure for a cocktail.