Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH WHISKEY SHOWDOWN Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Redbreast Cask Strength Blue Spot Cash Strength I’ve really gotten into Irish Whiskey over the past two years, in no small part to my good friend Siobhàn (@Joanie), with whom I’ve tasted (drained) a couple of dozen over that period. Redbreast in all its forms. The Spots in all its forms. Teeling in its many expressions. Multiple bottling of Clonakillty. And several others. What more appropriate way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with some great Irish Whiskey? The purist in me has a penchant for the high-test expressions, so I pulled three to honor the saint who banished all the snakes from Ireland. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Vanilla and sweet oak are immediately recognized on the nose, along with tropical fruit notes of papaya and guava, as well as black cherry cola, mulled apple cider, and spice cake. Viscous mouthfeel and more of the same notes on the palate. Spicy cinnamon on the finish. Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition can be found online for ~$130. Made exclusively for the US market. Would I buy it again? A bhuin! (Hell yes). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 50.5% ABV. Redbreast Cask Strength As expected, not as much oak and vanilla as the quasi-eponymous Missouri Oak Edition. Nose and flavor profile might be described as leaner and less expansive, more focused. Chocolate-covered cherries, pomander, dark caramel, fruitcake. Not quite as viscous as the Missouri Oak Edition. Neither a Kentucky Hug nor an Irish Car Bomb on the finish, but the expected high-test presence is most certainly present. Lingering flavors evoke vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Redbreast Cask Strength can be found online for about $100. Would I buy it again? I already have. At least one in inventory, in addition to this one. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. Batch B1/22. 58.1% ABV. Blue Spot Cash Strength One of my favorite whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Notes of honey, vanilla, hot candied cashews, ginger, warm brownies, espresso, banana bread. Controlled ostentatiousness. If you've got it, flaunt it--and Blue Spot most assuredly does. Proper Twelve this ain‘t, but you may need a Connor McGregor tolerance to enjoy it. Surprised I haven’t reviewed this since late 2023. At the time, I’d only had it in a restaurant, but I’ve since acquired a few bottles, including a couple brought back directly from Ireland by @Joanie (it can be found there for about $US 120 vs ~$300 here). Would I buy it again? Yes, at either price. Backup already in inventory. One of the best. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 7-Year age statement. Non-chill filtered. 58.9% ABV. There is no substitute for doing side-by-side tastings--even for whiskies that may be considered incongruous or not part a similar set. Tastes are influenced by context. These three are Irish, and two are from the same producer, but each is quite different in ways that are likely not recognized when each is tasted separately, at different times. I love cask-strength whiskies. Don’t get me started on the economics of water dilution. That‘s what any whiskey less than cask strength or barrel proof is--a water-diluted expression of whatever was in the barrel. It has nothing to do with what tastes “best.” If that were the case, there wouldn’t be a bare minimum (40% ABV / 80 proof), nor would there be so many common ABVs (43%, 45%, etc.). If I had to rank these three whiskies, it would be Blue Spot, Missouri Oak, and 12-year Cask Strength. This surprises me, because I love the latter (and still do), and the second one is more diluted. Each of these are hedonistic and contemplative whiskies, Irish or otherwise. Sláinte!

My relationship with Irish Whiskies has been a turbulent one. Most of have been off putting for me, some have been completely devoid of taste and complexity yet others pleasantly surprise me. Redbreast 12 year Cask Strength is among the latter. It's hot. Of course it would be: bottled at a fiery 112(ish) proof, this ain't no weak sauce watered down swill. Its full bodied taste is interesting.... it begins ever so slightly sweet and tad salty? Its got a little butterscotch sweetness vibe cruising in the background. Then you get the spices. Lots of spice, but not of the herbaceous type like a Rye. No... this spice is more like a hot cinnamon spice, accompanied by some heat from the proof. The finish is long, lingering and a bit oily in the sense that it coats the tongue. Its good. It's not life changing, but its good. I wonder now: is this as good as an Irish Whiskey can get?

appearance: chestnut oloroso sherry; many quick falling legs/tears nose: wood spice, vanilla, honey, citrus, fruit/berries, bourbon, ethanol, apricot... a bit of water brings cinnamon, milk chocolate, more vanilla and spices palate: "smooth" for being cask strength, candied apple, red apple. water brings out oak and astringency finish: hot, peppery, with heat resonating down the chest these are just some first impressions. for an irish whiskey, something about it reminds me of a bourbon. those not used to higher abv might notice and be put off by the ethanol heat/smell/taste. the regular redbreast 12 comes at 40% abv, so it would be interesting if they offered something in the 43-46% range. definitely something every serious whisky drinker should try at least once, since nothing else is like it

Simply Beautiful. As I mostly stick to bourbon, Redbreast is a whiskey that I often find myself going back to. I have had many of their offerings, but this takes the cake. Its a complex and beautiful nose that is much more present than in other offerings. Rich dry fruits, such as plum and apricot, with a subtle hint of spice. No peat! Upon tasting, the true nature of this whiskey comes to light. The dried fruits are still very much at play, but there is a smooth, subtle custard element that comes into play with the backing of the higher proof. Smooth and velvety, yet strong and fortified. A refreshing retreated from the overly oaky and vanilla high proof bourbons. There is character here, and a lot of it.

I’ve been waiting a long time to try this. Years. Literally. It did not disappoint. Thyme, herbs and nutty pepper on the nose. The palate is sweet but muted, fruity but not juicy with a very pleasant heat that cancels the only weakness of the more common lower strength version. There’s some working class muscle here that is nevertheless quietly but unabashedly in touch with its feminine side. I have just ingested and become all of humanity. Ok yes I’ve had a little too much to drink tonight but I’m trying to convey to you how relatable and satisfying this whiskey is, so please fuck off if you think my review is too ethereal. It’s an amazing goddamn whiskey ok? Goodnight

Batch 1, 2021, 56.3% ABV. On the nose, berries, cream, and shortbread cookie. There's a fair bit of ethanol right out of the gate, but it eases with some air. Even just a few minutes in the glass. On the palate it hits all the right spots for me, and I'm not especially fond of Irish whiskey (although growing in appreciation). Whipped cream, vanilla custard, berry compote, apple, cinnamon, shortbread. I think it's a little better than B1/20, but I'd need to side-by-side to confirm, which I can do, as I have a little left of the 20. Such a delicious whiskey. The price has gone up recently, but this has earned permanent residence in the cabinet.