The Busker has been making quiet waves in the Irish whiskey scene, and their Single Pot Still expression is one I've been keen to spend proper time with. At £36.25 and bottled at 44.3% ABV, it sits in that sweet spot where you're paying enough to expect craft but not so much that you'd hesitate to crack it open on a Tuesday.
For anyone unfamiliar with the term, single pot still is a uniquely Irish style — it uses a mix of malted and unmalted barley, all distilled in traditional copper pot stills. That unmalted barley is the key. It's what gives pot still whiskey that creamy, almost oily texture and a spicy backbone you won't find in a standard single malt. It's a style that nearly died out in the 20th century, so every new entrant keeping it alive gets a nod from me.
The Busker is a NAS release, meaning there's no age statement on the bottle. That's not automatically a negative — plenty of excellent whiskeys skip the number and let the liquid speak. What matters is whether they've used that flexibility well, and at 44.3% they've at least given it a bit more punch than the typical 40% floor. That extra few percentage points makes a real difference in how the whiskey carries flavour, especially in cocktails where a lower-proof spirit can get lost behind citrus or sweetener.
Tasting Notes
I don't have detailed tasting notes to break down here, but based on the single pot still style and the ABV, you can expect that characteristic pot still creaminess — think buttery mouthfeel with a peppery, spiced edge. The unmalted barley typically brings orchard fruit and a graininess that's more interesting than it sounds. At 44.3%, those flavours should have decent presence without being aggressive.
The Verdict
At £36.25, The Busker Single Pot Still is genuinely good value. The single pot still category has historically been dominated by one or two big names charging north of £50, so having a credible option at this price point is welcome. The 44.3% ABV shows some confidence from the producers — they're not just hitting the legal minimum and calling it a day. Is it going to compete with the top-shelf pot stills? Probably not. But it doesn't need to. This is a well-priced, well-presented Irish whiskey that does exactly what you'd want from the style. I'm giving it a 7.5 out of 10 — it earns that score by being honest, approachable, and genuinely enjoyable without pretending to be something it isn't.
Best Served
This is a natural fit for a Whiskey Sour. That pot still spice and creaminess will stand up beautifully against fresh lemon juice and simple syrup — the oily texture carries through the shake and gives you a richer, more substantial cocktail than you'd get with a blended whiskey. Two ounces of The Busker, three-quarters ounce fresh lemon, half ounce simple syrup, one egg white if you're feeling fancy. Dry shake first, then shake hard over ice, strain into a coupe. The pot still character really shines through that format. Equally, if you want something simpler, a splash of water opens it up nicely for sipping neat.
