Latest news with #PotStill
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Team behind The Pot Still reveal plans for pub near Hampden Park
The family-run team behind one of Glasgow's most celebrated whisky bars is preparing for a busy summer season after taking ownership of a popular Southside pub near Hampden Park. Late last year, it was announced that the Murphys would be taking over The Clockwork in Mount Florida after more than a decade at the helm of city centre institution, The Pot Still. Though the news came as a pleasant surprise to some, others familiar with Pot Still were well aware of the strong connection Frank Murphy holds with the bar. 'I've always wanted Clockwork, and waiting for it to come on the market felt like a long time coming,' he told The Herald. 'I started working there when it had just been opened by Robin and Gay Graham as the Clockwork Beer Company on Cathcart Road in 1997. 'I had learned a fair bit about beer and whisky while working with my dad, who used to own pubs like The Arlington, and various other hospitality roles after that, but this place was another level. 'A six-foot double fridge full of German beers at a time such fridges were usually rammed full of Bud, fruit beers from Belgium, varieties of Hoegaarden I never knew existed, magnums of Trappist ales, and over 20 draught beers. 'I was working half of my time at the bar and half at the brewery, learning how to brew beer. 'But then the chance to reinvigorate the Pot Still came along, and it was too good an opportunity to pass up.' Both Frank and his sister Geraldine had previously worked at the Pot Still in the early 00s under then-owner Kenny Storrie and knew they could be the perfect fit for the small but characterful unit on Hope Street. With the help of their father, Brian, who had decades of experience running high-profile pubs in and around Glasgow, the Murphys officially took over the bar in 2011. Since then, they have gone from strength to strength, continuing the family-run tradition of The Pot Still and building a collection of over 1,000 whiskies from all over the world on the gantry. Pictured: Mad Men star Christina Hendricks visits The Pot Sill (via Instagram) (Image: The Pot Still) Famous faces to have visited over the years include everyone from Mad Men star Christina Hendricks to English heavy metal outfit, Iron Maiden, while of a weekend, locals sit side by side with international visitors from all over the globe in search of the finest whisky Scotland has to offer. Brian eventually retired in 2023, with daughter Katie Ritchie taking over his place, not long before another opportunity would present itself with The Clockwork. 'We had been on the lookout for another pub for years and went for a few we didn't get, maybe because we were too timid or not fast enough.' Murphy continued. 'The Clockwork isn't exactly what we would have picked as our second venue because it's such a large unit. I mean, the function space upstairs is probably bigger than the entire Pot Still. 'But we couldn't not take the chance, because we knew if we didn't go for it now, someone else would.' Taking over from the Three Thistle Pub company, Murphy and his family team are now hard at work to re-establish Clockwork's standing as 'one of the best pubs in Glasgow'. 'There will always be a bit of overlap between The Clockwork and Pot Still, but there's no point in trying to do the exact same thing in both pubs. 'What we want to do is try and get the guys who drink in Pot to come to the Southside and see us over there, where it won't have to be quite as classic. 'We're focusing a lot more on blended malts because that's where a lot of the action is at the moment, thanks to guys like Woven Whisky in Leith.' As well as reintroducing a selection of German and Belgian beers, the bar also takes lead from events at Hampden Park stadium to explore a range of worldwide spirits. 'When the women's team were playing the Netherlands recently, I put up a bottle of whisky from Millstone in the Netherlands, and when Scotland play Iceland this month, I've got a smoky whisky from Floki in Iceland. 'They don't have peat, so they have to use another form of rapidly decomposing vegetation to smoke their barley, which is sheep s***. "...It's really not as bad as it sounds. 'Then there are big gigs at Hampden with Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and Chris Brown. 'The only problem with that is that they are three very different acts, and I have no idea what those crowds will drink. 'If it were someone like the Foo Fighters, we would be preparing to sell a lot of beers and Jack Daniels, but we'll figure it out.' Alongside catering to customers old and new in Mount Florida, Murphy is also looking forward to the chance to add his own mark to Clockwork, with an ultimate goal to reinstate the microbrewery side of the business so that the smell of hops will 'cascade through the building' once more. 'Clockwork was the last place I worked before we took over the Pot Still, so I know it very well, but over the years it's been refurbished within an inch of its life with a lot of the parts I liked the most cut away,' he said. 'We're now fixing that, but it's a daunting task. 'When my dad had pubs, he made sure that we understood why he would buy another place even if one was already doing well. 'While the Pot Still is still running absolutely fine and there's no reason to kill that golden goose, we lease it, which means that we will never fully own it, and there's a limit to the changes we can make. 'It's the engine of everything we do, but we could be kicked out tomorrow with nothing but our bottles of whisky. 'Every single brick at Clockwork is now family owned and ours to do what we want with, that's really important to us and offers a bit of security. 'It's brought us a new challenge, and it's a big one, but it can't be the last one. 'I want to continue what we're doing and spread the good word further.' The Clockwork Bar is located at 1153 to 1155 Cathcart Road, Glasgow.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The SF World Spirits Competition Selects The Top Irish Pot Still Whiskey
The finalists for World's Best Pot Still Irish Whiskey Five Irish pot still whiskeys are finalists for the World's Best Irish Pot Still Whiskey at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes for the five finalists. Yellow Spot, part of the historic Spot Whiskey range, is one of the legendary brands of Irish whiskey. The brand is owned by Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants in Dublin and produced at the Midleton Distillery in Cork. This 12-year-old expression matures in ex-bourbon, sherry, and Malaga wine casks, offering a complex and layered profile. The whiskey presents a rich and creamy nose, showcasing aromas of lemon cheesecake, butterscotch, cooked cereal/malt, butter, and cinnamon. The palate reveals a sweet and spicy character, enhanced by buttered toast, jammy and dried fruits, nutmeg, clove, and candied lemon zest. The finish is long, sweet, and complex, with lingering raisin notes and cooked cereal. Redbreast is a legendary Irish whiskey brand and a perennial medalist in international spirit competitions. The 21-year-old expression is a premium whiskey from the Midleton Distillery. It's crafted from a mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, triple distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in a combination of American ex-bourbon barrels and first-fill Spanish Oloroso sherry butts. The result is a rich and complex whiskey that many consider among the finest pot still whiskeys in the world. The whiskey is rich and complex on the nose, showcasing a wide array of aromas, including fresh tropical fruits, nuts, and rich dried fruit. The palate reveals a pronounced Sherry influence, accompanied by vanilla, toasted oak, an assortment of fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and subtle wood spice notes. The finish is long and layered, featuring lingering spices, lemon curd, sugar cookies, and gingerbread notes. The Redbreast whiskey range This exceptional 27-year-old expression from Redbreast is matured in a combination of bourbon, sherry, and ruby port casks. Bottled at cask strength, it showcases the pinnacle of Redbreast's craftsmanship. A perennial gold medalist in international spirit competitions, it is one of the great Irish whiskeys. Like its younger sibling, the whiskey has an incredibly broad aroma, encompassing fresh and dried tropical and orchard fruits, nuts, caramel or butterscotch, and vanilla. The palate is smooth and creamy, showcasing Sherry/fruit cake, vanilla, toasted oak, nuts, and subtle spice notes. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering spice and seasoned oak notes. Redbreast Cask Strength is a more flavorful, intense, and higher-proof version of the classic 12-year-old Redbreast. It matures in a combination of ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. The nose reveals tropical, orchard, and citrus fruits, particularly dried apricot and golden raisin, accompanied by a medley of spices and toasted wood. The palate is rich, flavorful, and creamy, showcasing succulent fresh and dried fruits, spices, vanilla, and a hint of oak. The finish is exceptionally long, with lingering notes of fruit, spice, toasted oak, and digestive biscuit/cooked cereal. Boann Distillery's PX Cask Finish is a limited-edition single pot still Irish whiskey matured in Oloroso Sherry hogsheads and then finished in Pedro Ximénez casks from Malaga. Some of the PX casks are made from chestnut wood, imparting notes of nuts, bitter chocolate, and dried fruits to the whiskey. Dried fruit, dark chocolate, and a hint of spice are featured on the nose. The palate exhibits PX Sherry notes of figs, dates, raisins, caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, and seasoned oak. The finish is long and rich, with lingering notes of caramel, dark fruit, and sherry sweetness. The SFWSC is among the world's most respected and influential spirits competitions. Founded in 2000, it brings together a panel of seasoned industry experts—including master distillers, spirits journalists, and bar professionals—to conduct blind tastings across various spirit categories. Awards from the SFWSC are highly coveted, often serving as a benchmark for quality and craftsmanship in the global spirits industry. Its rigorous judging process and international prestige make it a valuable platform for emerging and established brands. Redbreast, one of the leading Irish whiskey producers, dominates the Best 2025 SFWSC Irish Pot Still Whiskey finalists. The 27-year-old Redbreast is nothing less than legendary, having won top Irish whiskey honors at numerous international spirit competitions. Together, these whiskeys showcase the remarkable breadth and sophistication of Irish pot still whiskeys. If you're a fan of Irish whiskey, these expressions should be part of your collection. If you are unfamiliar with Irish whiskey and wish to learn more, these finalists are a good place to start.
