Jonathan Mitchell: A Spot of Whiskey History
Today we are seeing a resurgence in demand for Ireland’s quintessential style of Irish whiskey – pot still whiskey. New distilleries all over the country are distilling and maturing single pot still whiskey in the hopes that it once again becomes the world’s most consumed and demanded Irish whiskey. In the late 1700s and throughout the 1800s and indeed well into the 1900s, single pot still whiskey ruled the world.
As domestic and global events played out in the 1900s, from prohibition to trade wars to Scottish and American competitors seizing upon opportunities, that style of whiskey faded in popularity to the point where it all but disappeared by the 1970s.
However, one brand never died out – never faded away and never disappeared from shelves and that is Green Spot Irish whiskey. Today, Green Spot is joined by many other siblings in the Spot range of whiskeys and every label bears a family name – the Mitchell family.
The Mitchell & Son firm of wine, whiskey and spirit merchants created this famous brand in the late 1800s and to this day are still involved in its production and distribution.
Legendary in the world of Irish whiskey, the Mitchell family ensured that single pot still whiskey bearing the Spot name never faded into obscurity.
This week I spent a wonderful afternoon chatting with Jonathan Mitchell, sixth generation of the Mitchell family to lead the company and oversee the wine and whiskey business. He has had a front row seat to the remarkable changes that have occurred in the world of Irish whiskey in the past 50 years and was instrumental in ensuring the survival and promotion of single pot still whiskey bearing the Spot name in the 1970s and 80s.
I hope you enjoy the remarkable stories Jonathon shared.
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