POTATO WINE

Our Birthright

Distilling was considered a birthright by my countrymen.  The Scots learned all about distilling from the Irish (though they are loath to admit it). The Irish in turn learned about it, (according to ourselves at least), from missionary monks who arrived in Ireland in the seventh century.

The Water Of Life?!

We are sketchy what happened for the next 700 years or so, but it does seem reasonable to believe that monks in the various monasteries were distilling types of ‘spirits’ called uisce beatha (Gaelic word for "water of life"), primarily for making medical compounds.  

The locals got ahold of and modified their technique to obtain a drinkable spirit (what; you think we’re all as touched as the guy on the Lucky Charms box?).   We discovered a wide variety of alcohol-yielding ingredients; including potatoes.  Potato is one of the most traditional home-produced country wines.   The Irish had brewed ‘poitin’ [puh-cheen] - Ireland’s famous illicit whiskey, (also called ‘mountain tea’) for centuries but had to work in secret to avoid paying heavy taxes imposed by the British Government.

Poitin Distillers Were Hunted By The Authorities

The Catholic Church was also opposed to poitin, as was the Irish Government. I would guess that if Jesus would have been Irish, his name would have been Sheamus Christ and the Blessed Sacrament would now be poitin and spuds. There are some far flung theories outstanding that reckon since Jesus never got married, never held down a steady job, and went out drinkin’ with the lads the night before he died; that he was probably Irish ANYHOW.

However, despite all the efforts of the various authorities throughout the centuries, the illicit poitin industry continued to thrive and is still in existence today.  One of the advantages the illicit distillers had over the authorities was that poitin was relatively easy to make and stills could be set up and dismantled quickly.

Moonshine Still's Over There At MayBerry...

 I know Any Griffith over there at Mayberry had the same issues; we have a lot in common with our Southern friends. We often fought the Brits with a very Barney Fifesque mentality and bravado, while being as sober as Otis Campbell.

Variations of this recipe have been handed down through generations of families.  In some parts, it is a closely guarded secret but I’m sharing mine with you.  See recipe at the end of this post. 

Away With Pills, It’ll Cure All Ills!

Many enthusiastic drinkers will justify their habit by referring to the medicinal powers of their favorite tipple.

Poitin drinkers insists that there’s no need for pills because poitin, or mountain dew or mountain tea, as it is known, is so powerful that it will cure ALL ills {see disclaimer on ulcers, cirrhosis, pancreatitis cardiovascular disease, depression, seizures and gout}.

No Prejudice In The Bottle!

And it cures without favor or prejudice, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re a pagan, a Christian or a Jew. Poitin does not discriminate and will work for all.

The Kick of An Ass/Donkey

Be careful, the potato wine (all mountain dews) can have the kick of mule, so you have been warned.

                                   POTATO WINE

2 lb potatoes, scrubbed well

2 lb raisins, washed in hot water and chopped

4 lb brown sugar

1 pint fresh wheat, husks removed

6 pints water

Wine yeast

Campden tablet

Sprinkle the yeast granules into a cup of boiled tepid water, cover with clingfilm and leave to stand for about an hour.  Grate the potatoes into a fermentation bin then stir in the raisins, sugar and wheat.  Bring the water to the boil, pour over the ingredients and stir well until all the sugar has dissolved. Cover and leave to cool.  When cool, add the activated yeast, cover loosely and keep in a cool place for 3 weeks, stirring at regular intervals.  Strain the liquid into a demi-john topping up to 1 gallon with cold boiled water if required.  Fit an airlock and leave to ferment.  When fermentation has ceased, siphon the wine into a clean demi-john and add 1 crushed Campden tablet [a sulpher based tablet that kills unwanted yeasts and bacteria].  Bung [not bum] tight and store for a least six months.  Finally, siphon into sterilized bottles, seal tightly, and then, before drinking, take care to judge the potency of the brew!