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The difference is the grain bill?
Single malt whiskies are produced using only malted barley and are the output of a single distillery.
Earlier in Irish history when the taxes of the country where paid by the local populace and collected by another country it only seemed right to reduce the amount of taxes paid by avoiding them. Once upon a time a fairly hefty tax was placed on the purchase of malted barley enabling a great revenue stream for the tax collectors from Irish and Scottish whiskey distilleries. To reduce the burden on the tax collectors and lighten there load so to speak Irish distilleries starting using other cereal products in there whiskey like oats, wheat unmalted barley and rye. The Single Pot Still was born, still made in the same way but substituting some of the malted barley with other cereals Irish whiskey recipes avoided some of the taxes and created a unique style of whiskey. Nowadays legislation dictates a maximum of 5% cereals be used in Irish Pot Still but some of the older recipes had over 25%.
Pot still whiskey is a style unique to Ireland. This is distilled in a pot still just as with a single malt but here a combination of malted and unmalted barley is used. This gives the resulting spirit a distinctive creamy texture and fruity, spicy flavour.
Coupled with the unique flavours and aromas a single pot still whiskey provides nostalgia kicks in and the essence of a great story of how the mighty had the wool pulled over there eyes is great around an open fire, a fine glass of whiskey and good company.
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