For Irish whiskey fans of the world listen up this is ‘A Glass Apart’.
Irish whiskey has many great stories, but the most important one right now is the rebirth of single pot still whiskey. Once Ireland’s signature style, it nearly disappeared in the 20th century. Fionnan O’Connor’s A Glass Apart is the book that champions this unique spirit, explaining its past, celebrating its present, and fighting for its future
- About the Author: Who is Fionnan O’Connor?
- Why It Works
- Style & Structure
- 5 Things I Learned from A Glass Apart
- Who Should Read This?
- Whiskey4Breakfast Take
- Verdict on A Glass Apart: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
This isn’t just a tasting guide or a distillery map. It’s an encyclopedia of knowledge a passionate, detailed love letter to Ireland’s most distinctive contribution to the world of whiskey.
If you want to understand what makes Irish whiskey different (and why pot still matters so much), this is the best whisky book for you.
About the Author: Who is Fionnan O’Connor?
Fionnan O’Connor is one of the most respected voices in Irish whiskey today. A Dublin-born whiskey writer, educator, and historian, he has dedicated his career to researching Ireland’s lost distilling traditions, with a special focus on pot still whiskey.
O’Connor’s academic background in history blends perfectly with his love for whiskey. He has been involved in advising Irish distilleries, championing heritage mash bills, and helping revive styles that were almost forgotten.
His mix of scholarship and passion makes him the perfect guide to Ireland’s whiskey story and A Glass Apart proves it.
I have met him many times and heard him speak many more times (the porridge on Zoom during lock down was a personal favourite) and I am proud that he is flying the flag so strongly in the world for Irish Whisk(e)y.
Why It Works
- Focused: Instead of covering “all whiskey,” it zooms in on pot still- Ireland’s signature style.
- Historical depth: Explains how pot still became dominant, how it was lost, and why it’s now making a comeback.
- Tasting & practical: Profiles key pot still whiskeys, from classics like Redbreast and Powers to modern revivals.
- Passionate voice: Fionnan writes with fire you feel the urgency of saving this style from obscurity.
Style & Structure
- Readable but detailed: Combines academic depth with an easy, engaging style.
- Beautifully designed: Photography and layout give it the feel of a proper whiskey coffee-table book. Text can be a bit tricky to read in bad lighting though.
- Logical flow: History first, then tasting notes, then the bigger cultural picture.
5 Things I Learned from A Glass Apart
- Single pot still is Ireland’s true signature – it’s not just another whiskey style, it’s the heart of what makes Irish whiskey unique.
- Mash bills tell the story – mixing malted and unmalted barley isn’t an accident, it’s the secret sauce behind that creamy, spicy character.
- History explains the scars – taxes on malt, wars, and global trade shifts nearly wiped out pot still whiskey in the 20th century.
- The revival is alive – distilleries are digging into old recipes and proving that pot still isn’t just history, it’s the future.
- Tasting is believing – from Redbreast to Green Spot to Powers, drinking pot still whiskey is the only way to truly understand Ireland’s whiskey soul.
Who Should Read This?
- Irish whiskey fans who want to go deeper than just Jameson.
- Whiskey learners curious about what makes Irish whiskey unique.
- Collectors & enthusiasts chasing Redbreast, Green Spot, Powers, or the new wave of single pot stills.
- Whiskey historians who maybe don’t know as much about Irish whiskey and love the backstory as much as the glass in hand.
Whiskey4Breakfast Take
For me, A Glass Apart is the book whiskey/whiskey desperately needed. It takes single pot still out of the background and puts it where it belongs- at the heart of Ireland’s whiskey identity.
It’s crisp, in depth, and inspiring. This isn’t just a book you read once and shelve. It’s one you come back to whenever you want to remind yourself why Irish whiskey is more than a brand or a trend it’s a living tradition.
Fionnan’s work, in this book and beyond is flipping the script on Irish whiskey. For years, the same story was spoon-fed by brand ambassadors, whiskey clubs, and glossy marketing decks. A Glass Apart proves that one passionate historian can do more for Irish whiskey than a thousand ad campaigns ever could. He’s single-handedly giving single pot still whiskey the recognition it deserves not by selling it, but by uncovering it.
Verdict on A Glass Apart: Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey
A Glass Apart is the definitive book on Irish single pot still whiskey. If you care about Irish whiskey or whiskey at all… you need this on your shelf. It could be the best whisky book you ever buy.