What's the Difference? - Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey vs Powers Rye Irish Whiskey

Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey

Powers Gold is the brand's flagship product and carries on its legacy from 1791 to the present day, including the first Irish whiskey in Dublin to be individually bottled in 1886. This product is triple-distilled in copper pot stills at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork with a content of 70 % Pot Still whiskey (defined as using a mash bill containing a minimum of 30 % malted barley and a minimum of 30 % unmalted barley), aged on-site between 5 and 7 years in former or ex-American oak barrels, non-chill filtered, and bottled at the original export strength of 86.4 proof (43.2 % ABV). 

Powers Rye Irish Whiskey

Powers Rye is the brand's newest label. It is triple-distilled from 100 % Irish Rye at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, aged in former or ex-American oak barrels, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 86.4 proof (43.2 % ABV). Unlike American or Canadian Whisky, Irish whiskey is not typically distilled from rye but rather a combination of malted or unmalted barley or corn, sometimes called maize. 

Powers - The Brand

James Powers, a Dublin innkeeper and whiskey connoisseur founded the John’s Lane Distillery in 1791. His son John Powers took over his father’s operation in 1817. He expanded the family business even further by entering into a partnership with his son James and forming John Powers & Son in 1821. The Powers brand features many historical moments, including the first individually bottled whiskey in Dublin (Gold Label), one Ireland’s first trademarks in 1877 (Diamond P logo), and used in the original Irish coffee created in 1943. Unfortunately, due to two World Wars, American Prohibition, and tariffs imposed by the UK, the brand has to merge with two other distilleries to form the Irish Distillers to save the Irish Whiskey category. The brand moved distilling operations to the Midleton Distillery in 1975, but bottling continues in Dublin.

Support The Spirits Educator

If you would like to support the content here, please click the button below to buy me a cocktail or neat pour through PayPal. You can also use Venmo @thespiritseducator.

Thank you for your support!

Affiliate Disclosure

The links for product recommendations in this post are affiliate links. At zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. This helps support this website so that I can continue to bring you new content.

Please Drink Responsibly.