
Powers John's Lane 12 Year Old
Pernod Ricard (Irish Distillers) · Midleton Distillery, Midleton, County Cork, Ireland
Nose
Creamy and lingering with black pepper arriving late, a slow warming sensation, and fading notes of dark chocolate and dried fruit
Palate
Vanilla, Honey, Dried Fruit, Clove Spice, Woody, Earthy
Finish
Powers John's Lane is the Irish whiskey that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about the category.
- Distillation
- Rich amber gold
- Maturation
- $60–$75
Cocktail Suggestion
The John's Lane Flip: 2 oz Powers John's Lane · 1/2 oz demerara syrup · 1 whole egg · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Dry shake vigorously, then shake with ice, strain into a coupe, grate fresh nutmeg on top.
Food Pairing
Dark chocolate truffles dusted with cocoa powder — the earthy, chocolatey depth of both creates a decadent match.
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