Powers Whiskey Day

On July 31, 2026, Irish Whiskey Society America honored the legacy of Powers John's Lane Distillery on the 50th anniversary of its closing. The virtual member event celebrated the iconic Irish Whiskey brand and its history. Hosted by IWSA president Allan Dwyer, the event brought Powers Whiskey fans together for a night of stories and tasting. 

 "July 31st will now be known as Powers Whiskey Day to commemorate the day the doors of the famous Dublin John's Lane Distillery closed for the final time," said Dwyer. "It just made sense to kick off the inaugural Powers Whiskey Day on the 50th anniversary. Powers has such a wonderful history within Ireland, globally, and within the whiskey industry. Powers was the first to bottle its whiskey, the first to introduce the mini bottle for sale, and the most popular brand in Ireland during the 19th and 20th centuries. We plan to honor the brand with an annual celebration on the day going forward.

"While Jameson receives the well deserved plaudits today after decades of marketing investment from Pernod Ricard, those in the know about Powers, know", added Dwyer. "When the Irish Whiskey Society America started in 2010, Jameson had become the global brand leading the Irish Whiskey industry industry back to prominence. One of the first public tasting events we held was the "Battle of the Johns" which pitted a (John) Jameson expression against a (John) Powers offering. Despite a pre-tasting bias for Jameson, the event resulted in a resounding preference for the Powers expressions. While I'm not trying to convert whiskey drinkers, I do think we gathered new members into what I like to call the Powers Posse.

"The generations of Irish Whiskey drinkers that made Powers the most popular for decades have been aging out. Newer drinkers are not as familiar with the brand as the marketing emphasis has been on Jameson globally. The explosion of new Irish distilleries since 2010 has also greatly expanded the choices available to newer drinkers maybe searching for an alternative to their parents go to whiskey," added Dwyer.

"Declaring July 31st Powers Whiskey Day is all about celebrating a brand that so many of us love. The plan is to hold an annual event focusing on different aspects of the brand's history with different whiskey expressions featured. The 2026 inaugural event rightly focused on the John's Lane Distillery but there are so many other themes and areas we can celebrate going forward. Not just for club members, it's a day for all fans, new drinkers wanting to know more, and anyone wanting to enjoy a Powers Whiskey. Whether straight up, as part of an Irish coffee, a hot Powers, or cocktail, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the brand. I hope more will want to Be Part of the Powers Posse and look forward to sharing a whiskey with them on a future Powers Whiskey Day."

July, 31, 2026