This 1970s Powers was distilled at the original John’s Lane Distillery in Dublin, Ireland which operated from 1791 – 1974. After 1974 the Irish Distiller’s group (which they were a founding member of in 1966) moved all of the operations for Power’s whiskey to the Midleton distillery. The once ultra-modern John’s Lane distillery, which even had its own 24-7 fire department, soon began being demolished bit by bit after the closure.
Not much of John’s Lane remains today, but what does has been set aside as a protected piece of Irish history; as it should be. This is the only whisky I’ve ever had from the original John’s Lane distillery and after trying it I’m extremely curious to try more because as you’ll see in the 1970s Powers review below I think there might have been something wrong with the bottle we got.
1970s Powers Info
Region: Dublin, Ireland
Distiller: John’s Lane Distillery
Blend: Malted Barley and Grain Whiskey
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: NAS
ABV: 430%
Price: NA – Auction, Specialty Store or Private Seller
1970s Powers Review
EYE
Honey
NOSE
Funky as can be with huge waves of sulfur followed by notes of chicken bouillon, caramel, a musty staleness and a bit of an herbal character. No thanks.
PALATE
Sulfur bomb speckled with notes of chicken bouillon, alcohol, caramel, a musty staleness, beef jerky and a slight herbal character mixed with a light floral character. Again, no thanks.
FINISH
Medium drop of chicken bouillon and caramel that fades to a stale herbal character.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
No balance, thin body and a watery feel.
OVERALL
So here’s the deal, I think this bottle of 1970s Powers was tainted. There’s just no way the whiskey tasted this bad back then and was as popular as it was. It carries none of the flavors and aromas that whiskey writers from that era spoke about and the distillery was known for. This whiskey was thin, harsh and foul. It didn’t carry any of the light fruit and honey aromas and flavors Irish Whiskey was known for.
There are some out there who might try this and be put off by it, but for me it’s more of a challenge. I want to try and track down another bottle to compare it to. Though even if this wasn’t tainted and it actually did taste and smell like this at the end of the distillery’s life that’s a great lesson as well. Though it would make me seriously wonder how the brand could ever recover if everything they were putting out was like this 1970s Powers.
SCORE: 0-59/100 (F – consumed at a tasting)