Redbreast 27 yo Batch 6

 

 

 

55,9°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Casks, Ruby Port Pipes Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Pot Still 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This 27-year-old has been available since 2020, with one batch released each year. This year’s batch hasn’t been released yet, so this is the most recent one. The recipe is the same every time: classic aging in Bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, followed by a finish in Ruby Port pipes. The duration of the finish isn’t specified, but I assume it’s fairly short. 

Let's Taste It :  

Soft prunes, oak bark, dates, figs. Onctuous woodiness, beef stew, fish soup, green olives. Raspberries and blackcurrants, though very subtle. Redcurrants, melt-in-the-mouth toffee, a hint of orange zest, an earthy and chocolatey note. Rhubarb. On the palate, the port makes its presence felt, fermented red fruits, crushed blueberries, dark chocolate, macerated cherries, very well-balanced spices. An almost endless, velvety finish with jammy fruits, clafoutis, black grapes, muscat, liquorice, exotic wood, black pepper, cloves. Caramel and cinnamon, toasted hazelnuts. 

 

In Short, 

It’s certainly excellent, though the port somewhat masks Redbreast’s character, you don’t get the usual variety of grains, instead it’s more about cooked fruit, with a slightly syrupy quality, a crimson hue, and great elegance. In some ways, it’s magnificent, in others, it’s a bit disappointing. There’s no doubt, however, that it isn’t worth the asking price, but it seems to be nearly impossible to find already, so there are fans. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lisa Ekdahl & Peter Nordahl Trio - When Did You Leave Heaven

Redbreast 21 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrels and 1st Fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Sherry Seasoned Butts

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Pot Still

Launched in 2013

Unchillfiltered

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This 21-year-old is the third release in the brand’s Core Range, following the 12-year-old and the 15-year-old, the 12-year-old Cask Strength being an annual limited edition. It blends whiskies aged between 21 and 28 years, matured either in ex-Bourbon barrels or in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts. It appears that the proportion of malted barley and Oloroso sherry butts is higher in this one. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Honeycomb, rum baba, vanilla crumble, rich and intense oak, a touch of iodine, melon, fresh cereals, candle wax, dried apricots. Baked apples, damp leather, light spices, cinnamon, and cocoa. On the palate, it is primarily oaky, waffles drizzled with maple syrup, pastry cream, slightly more pronounced spices, cloves, black pepper. Vanilla extract. The freshness of lychee. Peanut butter. A beautiful, long finish, delicately peppery, honey and lemon coulis. Ginger, shortbread biscuits. 

 

In Short, 

Perhaps there are more sherry casks involved, personally I found the bourbon influence to be noticeable, but very pleasant, creamy, between honey and lemon, vanilla and biscuit. Overall, it’s very well crafted, nuanced, subtle, in the same vein as the 15-year-old, but even smoother and full of finesse. Here again, a slight lack of punch is the only flaw. The price, however, seems too high to me. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                               Mikaela Davis - Saturday Morining 

Redbreast 18 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Bourbon Barrels, Oloroso Sherry Butts, Cream Sherry and Ruby Port Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Pot Still 

Launched in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

I would have thought that Redbreast 18 Year Old had been around for decades, but no, it wasn’t launched until 2024. Redbreast is therefore a range that continues to expand and is seeking true variety. What does this one offer compared to the other expressions, the 15 Year Old or the 21 Year Old, which exist since longer? It’s those famous Cream Sherry Casks, from the Antonio Pàez Lobato cooperage, it is a sweetened blended sherry, involving Oloroso mixed with a portion of Pedro Ximénez. And of course, the use of Ruby Port Casks, which deepen the sherry notes. All of this makes the 18-Year-Old a truly unique and original expression. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It’s very fruity, with a wide variety of fruit notes. Cherry, raspberry, but also mirabelle plums, dates, dried bananas. It has a lovely creaminess, along with a touch of honey, a hint of iodine, walnut cake, dark chocolate, damp earth, and grass. On the palate, it is velvety, oaky, elegant, honey and cake filling, crushed figs, grapes of every color. Spices are almost nonexistent. The finish is long, well-structured, a whisper of charcoal and earth, cinnamon, saffron, waxed then varnished wood, molasses, mocha, royal jelly. 

 

In Short, 

It’s a continuation of the 12-year-old, but with more intensity, depth, and power. It has a creamy, smooth, and woody character that’s very pleasant. That said, it lacks a bit of strength and body to be perfect. I really liked it, but I find the price far too high.

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Kingfishr - Caroline

Redbreast 12 yo Cask Strength Batch N°B1/23

 

 

 

57,2°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

American Oak Bourbon Barrels and Spanish Oak Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Pot Still 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Redbreast 12-Year-Old Cask Strength was launched in 2011, with one batch released each year, except in 2019, when two batches were released. This is therefore the 14th batch. It’s still the same recipe, more or less the same as the diluted 12-year-old, except that it’s unchill-filtered. The slight problem is that there was no batch in 2025 and we’re still waiting for this year’s. Could the series have come to an end? The number of bottles released isn’t specified, but batches generally range from 70 to 75 casks, or about 30,000 bottles. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy honey, very juicy yellow plums, lemon zest, freshly cut young wood. Light floral notes, a hint of iodine. Bananas and dates, apricots and mandarin, melting toffee, buttered toasts. On the palate, pure honey. It’s a bit light, though, rather spicy, vanilla, citrus, and ginger. Pastry cream and cooked fruit, but also a few malty cereals and cut hay. A full-bodied, long finish, woody and earthy, deep spices, royal jelly. Egg custard, shortbread cookies, fresh mint. Hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

It’s often said that the 12-year-old Cask Strength is the cask-strength version of the 12-year-old, but that’s not quite accurate, there’s significantly less sherry in the Cask Strength. That said, it’s true that the difference between batches is hard to pin down. Personally, I found this one to be better, but my verdict would likely have been different at another time or in a different context. Still, it’s quite well-made and the price is fair, all fans of the brand should pick one up. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Seo Linn - Óró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile

Redbreast 12 yo Cask Strength Batch N°B1/22

 

 

 

58,1°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Pot Still 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Since 2011, Redbreast has been releasing this 12yo Cask Strength, usually once, but sometimes twice a year, as a limited edition. It's more or less the same production method as the traditional 12yo, but with the added bonus of being unreduced, non-chill-filtered and colour-free. Just what every fan of the brand dreams of.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fairly light sherry, honey and dates, apple compote, salted butter caramel, a few citrus, even exotic fruits, banana and papaya, treacle. Roasted walnuts, peanut slivers, Chasselas grapes, buttered toast. Cereals are barely perceptible. Peach core. It's very well done on the palate, with honey blending with white fruit, candied bananas, apricots and mirabelle plums, and then the well-balanced spices come to the fore. The finish is very unctuous, with intense caramel, wood liqueur and a touch of varnish. Rosewood.

 

In Short, 

It's less overpowered by Sherry than I thought, it seems to me that the classic 12yo is richer in Sherry. But that's all to the good, because it's so light and delicious. It's very well-balanced, but you don't really taste the cereals. All in all, a very fine bottling, albeit at a rather high price.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Pogues - A Rainy Night in Soho

Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy MSPS22

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Seasoned & Unseasoned American Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Pot Still

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

When Barry Crockett, Master Distiller at Midleton, retired, the gift he was given was a bottle in his name, the Barry Crockett Legacy, the distillery's first Single Pot Still. Given its success, a new batch was launched, and we now have a new expression of this elixir every year. Here is the batch 2022. It is officially a NAS, but legend has it that the recipe includes spirits aged between 10 and 22 years. Production is limited to 2,500 bottles a year.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Cereals galore, muesli, toasted wheat, roasted corn, cracked rye, all coated in a knob of honey, it's unctuous, sweet, delicately encrusted in brioche and wheat galettes. Floral, with a few white fruits. The palate follows on from this, with a nice dash of vanilla, crunchy cereals, oats, millet, but it remains honeyed, and even gourmand, nougatine, vergeoise, marzipan, whole almonds, apricot kernel, discreet spices, an ounce of clove, very well done finish, chestnut, fresh wood, bark, pine needles, coconut.

 

In Short, 

This is undoubtedly the summit of what can be done in terms of Single Pot Still. For fans of the genre, it will be a marvel. For the rest of us, it's certainly an exceptional product, but far too expensive for what is still a NAS.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Foy Vance - It Ain't Over

Redbreast 15 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

1st Fill Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Barrels

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Single Pot Still

Launched in 2005 

Unchillfiltered

Totally Unpeated

This 15-year-old was originally produced as a limited edition to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of La Maison du Whisky in Paris. The huge success that followed led Irish Distillers Ltd to include it in the regular Redbreast range. Single Pot Still, distilled three times, as is the custom, it is aged for 15 to 19 years in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks.

Let's Taste It : 

Honey, cereals, gingerbread, rum baba. Mellow, round, almost spongy. Ripe fruits, pear, peach, but soon the sherry rises. Quite woody, more fig and leather than red fruits. Salted butterscotch. Hazelnut, olive oil. On the palate, it's creamy, milky, delicately flavoured with vanilla, with a very cereal-like base, in other words, Irish. Then damsons, blackcurrants, a few spices, paprika, pepper and turmeric, ginger, quinces, fermented grapes. Quite a long finish, biscuit, more cereals, dry earth, saffron, soft caramel.

 

In Short, 

At 46° and aged in both Bourbon and Sherry, I found it very balanced, varied and more intense than the 12yo. It's a worthwhile purchase for enthusiasts, even if the value for money is a little short.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          London Grammar - Nightcall

Jameson The Blender's Dog

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Sherry and Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Blended Whiskey

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated 

In 2017, Billy Leighton, Jameson's Head Blender, launched the Whiskey Makers Series, meant to pay tribute to all those involved in making Whiskey, be it the cooper, blender, distiller or others. The Blender's Dog is the 2nd edition of this series. For a whiskey professional, the Dog is not an animal, but the glass tube that never leaves his side and allows him to take samples from each cask.

Let's Taste It : 

Classic Irish whiskey nose, with sherry and grain, a whole range of cereals from barley to puffed rice. A pinch of almond and vanilla to bind it all together. Floral notes of daisy and chrysanthemum. A hint of pineapple. On the palate it's fresh, round and vanilla-flavoured, almost minty, with a soft lemon touch on the tip of the tongue. Disreet spices, turmeric and nutmeg. The finish is palatable, sparkling, with halftones of cola and chocolate milk. Quite balanced overall.

In Short, 

It's not bad, and far superior to the classic Jameson blended. Be that as it may, it remains a bit light on the palate and expensive for what it is. The public made no mistake about it: due to lack of success, the series ceased production in 2020.

Score : 81

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping:

                                           Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther Theme

Method and Madness Single Pot Still Finished in Virgin Hungarian Oak

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

2d Fill Bourbon Barrels and Virgin Hungarian Casks Finish

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Pot Still

Edited in 2018

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

A new experiment from the micro-distillery based in Midleton. After a first Single Pot Still aged partly in chestnut casks, which I did not have the honour of tasting, here is a second attempt to highlight the traditional method of production of Irish whiskey, with virgin casks from Hungary.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's young, fresh and very cereal-like, with barley, wheat and millet. Not very fruity, though. Barely a hint of vanilla. Very simple. But effective. Thyme and chives. Sweet on the palate, easy to drink. Honey, coated with a little lemon pulp. A few spices. White pepper and cardamom on the finish. Nutmeg and chestnut. Reasonably long and deep. It really hits the back of the throat. They're staying with the Irish whiskey theme, but with a few more original touches.

 

In Short, 

It's nice and original. The cereal and spice are there, and there are a few other flavours too. That said, my enthusiasm is measured, it's still a little too smooth for my taste.

Note : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Dolores Keane - Place In My Heart

Redbreast 12 yo

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland 

Oloroso Sherry Casks and Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Single Pot Still

Launched in 1991

Totally Unpeated

After being taken over by Irish Distillers in 1986, the Redbreast brand was relaunched in 1991 with this sherry-dominated 12-year-old, still Single Pot Still as tradition demands. It went on to establish itself as the best and most representative expression of Irish whiskey.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Perfect balance in every aspect, from the nose to the finish. This is a great classic. Round, deep and quite woody, the sherry is not at all overpowering, there's just enough to make the whole thing work. Cerealy and malty on the nose, more on pumpkin and butternut than red fruits. Palate a tad clear but sweet with a touch of paprika. The finish is very long, with hints of marzipan and even speculoos. A few spices, paprika, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric. Really well done.

 

In Short, 

It's obviously a must-have for anyone with even the slightest interest in Irish whiskey. Personally, I liked it, but it's a little light on power, too smooth, and it's not for me, I prefer peat.

Scoree : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday 

Redbreast Lustau Edition

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks, 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Pot Still

Launched in 2016

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Following a partnership between Lustau Bodegas, which produces Oloroso sherry, and Redbreast, the production of this Lustau Edition became possible. The whiskey is aged for 9 to 12 years before undergoing a further few months of finishing.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite young, but with a very fruity sherry that energises the taste. The nose tends towards red fruit, cherry but more candied, and dried grape, blood orange. Apart from that, wheat and other cereals, it's a very classic Irish whiskey nose, as enjoyable as ever. On the palate, it's much drier and I like it, with a background of grenadine and spices on the finish, which is suitably long and a bit earthy with pine needles. Personally, I prefer it to the 12-year-old, as it's more original.

 

In Short, 

It's a really nice, bold and original variation, a must-try for any self-respecting Irish whiskey lover.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Rory Gallagher - Shadow Play

Method and Madness Single Grain

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Bourbons Barrels and Toasted Spanish Casks Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Grain 

Launched in 2017

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Within the pantagruelian Midleton distillery, which produces Redbreast, Tullamore Dew and Jameson, the Method and Madness micro-distillery is experimenting with a smaller range. This one is the Single Grain, an innovation from Irish Distillers, the distillery's owners.

Let's Taste It : 

Very cerealy, dried barley, puffed rice, crispy wheat, the sherry is rare, with young wood and some dried fruits, but more apricot than grape. Quince marmalade with a hint of cinnamon. On the palate, the roundness and sweetness of the corn come through, but it's not like bourbon, it's different, smoother and more evanescent. That said, the vanilla makes itself felt. I like the peppery, throat-clearing finish. Quite long, sandy and a pinch of salt.

In Short, 

A very interesting experience. If you like grain whiskies, it's definitely worth a try, even if the value for money is a little disappointing.

Score : 84

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U