Galway's own Micil Distillery and Belfast trio Kneecap have just unveiled a one-off (ar)rested poitín that blends an age-old Connemara tradition with some Kneecap divilment thrown into the barrels. This delivers what nobody knew the world needed until now. It’s bottled small but deadly. A combination of two things they tried to ban and couldn’t. Read on for more..
“Seo chugat an comhoibriú nach raibh ar intinn ag aon duine leis an táirge a bhí i ndán duit. Thóg muid scoth an poitín as Conamara ó Dhrioglann Mhicil i nGaillimh agus chuir muid i mbairillí folmha den fhíon íce is fearr le Kneecap é. Thug muid deis don phoitín seo a scíth a ligean, rud a chruthaigh poitín eisceachtúil atá chomh dána agus cróga lena dhream féin."
above: Móglaí Bap from KNEECAP sampling the goods
The new release takes Micil Distillery’s award-winning Connemara poitín and rests it in empty oak casks seasoned with Kneecap’s favourite tonic wine made by monks. The result is a bold, unapologetic expression that reflects the character of the people who brought it to life. This limited edition naggin celebrates the Irish language, cross cultural creativity, and a shared love of acting the boll*x.
On Wednesday 10th December, the details were announced with a premiere video shared by Kneecap (see below). The product will now go on general sale on Friday 12th Dec at 1pm through the Micil website at micildistillery.com. Packaged in a hand-stamped brown paper bag, each bottle is individually numbered and wax-sealed, with a bespoke swing tag. Priced at €32, these are the perfect gift for any Kneecap fan!
A very, very special run of 24 x 500ml bottles will also be released, priced at €1,916 per bottle, with all profits going to charity. Every bottle will be signed by the members of Kneecap, with the bottle resting on a piece of turf housed in a wee old wooden box made by local Galway artist Fiachra Davoren. If you have any interest in one of these extra-special collectors' editions, please reach out to Micil Distillery by email to micheal@micil.ie.
All profits from the sale of the 500ml bottles will be donated to charity, split between Galway RNLI Lifeboats (Micil) and Aclaí Palestine (Kneecap).
above: Kneecap X Micil Naggin Limited Edition Poitín
Product information;
Kneecap X Micil Naggin Limited Edition Poitín
Format: 200ml naggin
Strength: 44% ABV
Quantity: 1,200 individually numbered naggins
Spirit: Micil Distillery Irish Poitín rested in tonic wine seasoned barrels (8 weeks’ resting time)
Price: €32 (on the price – it’s symbolic but also it costs a lot to season barrels with tonic wine!!)
Micil X Kneecap 500ml Collectors’ Edition
Format: 500ml bottle
Strength: 44% ABV
Quantity: 24 individually signed bottles
Spirit: Micil Distillery Irish Poitín rested in tonic wine seasoned barrels (8 weeks’ resting time)
Price: €1916
A spokesperson for Micil Distillery has said: “The collaboration you did not know you wanted with the product you did not know you needed. We have taken the very best Connemara poitín and rested it for 8 weeks in oak casks seasoned by Kneecap’s favourite tonic wine. It is a one-off spirit with a powerful sense of place and personality.”
For more on this collaboration please head over to Micil Distillery's website at micildistillery.com or see the link HERE.
above: Micil X Kneecap 500ml Collectors’ Edition
