Redbreast PX Edition

This is the inaugural release of Redbreast Iberian Series. Scotch and bourbon brands o’plenty have been using the annual NAS release gimmick, so it’s nice to see Redbreast start this trend for Ireland. I believe this PX line has been re-released, but this is the from the first batch. Let’s check it out. Nose: Gala apple, toffee, caramel, and vanilla. Shortbread cookie. Plum, raisin, date, fig, and cranberry are suggestive of the PX influence. Orange citrus and milk chocolate. Blackberry and raspberry add an interesting twist. Black pepper, cinnamon, baking spice, and oak. Palate: Orange citrus and milk chocolate are the dominant notes. Vanilla pecan ice cream. Nougat and toffee. Butterscotch. Some apricot and gala apple in the background. Shortbread cookie. Golden raisin, date, and fig. Cranberry, blackberry, raspberry. Some tart plum in the mid-palate. Peach as well. Orange sherbert even. Cinnamon and oak. Finish: Plum, date, fig, raisin, cranberry. Orange citrus, milk chocolate, vanilla, and toffee. Shortbread cookie, honey, and butterscotch. Black pepper, cinnamon, baking spice, and oak. Moderate-to-long finish, leaning toward the latter. The nose was initially a bit faint. Thought it did open up over and was plenty good once that happened. For a 46%’er, the finish was solid. And the palate—exceptional. The cask selection had to have been fantastic to make this flavor profile pop the way it did. Sure, all the classic Irish notes were there, but they played second fiddle to the PX notes—which validates my expensive NAS purchase. It certainly lives up to its name. Speaking of this being expensive, I paid $110 for this one. Definitely a heavy price to pay for an NAS in a brand new line of cask experimentation. And yet, I can say with confidence that my money was well spent with this one. All in all, 4.5/5 for this one. Maybe my nose is a little compromised from the pollen that’s filling the Jersey air right now. I’ve got enough for one more pour, so I’ll be sure to review my notes for the nose when my face is a bit less swollen. That aside, there is absolutely no doubt that this a superb whiskey. I’m very much looking forward to trying the Tawny Port next. Awesome stuff here from Redbreast.

Redbreast PX Cask Edition is no age statement and bottled at 46% ABV. After an initial maturation in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, the combination is then finished in PX sherry casks for a minimum of 12 months. This is the 2013 edition. The MSRP is $100, but I have not seen this for less than $130 where I am at. This bottle convinced me that PX sherry is the perfect touch to Redbreast whiskey. After dinner, this is the perfect treat. It does not matter if you like Scotch, bourbon, or even Grand Marnier, this whiskey will appeal to you, if you can tolerate drinking a distilled spirit neat. I had a guest whose drink of choice was Grand Marnier, which I only stock because I cook with it, who got to try this bottle, Dewar’s Signature, and Grand Marnier. She liked this more than the Grand Marnier and thought that this was more like Grand Marnier than the Dewar’s. That is the level of dessert you are presented with when you have this whiskey. Although I find this far from Grand Marnier, there are definitely Grand Marnier hints in here. On the nose, there is grapes and raisins combined with maple syrup and orange zest over a backbone of buttered waffles and French toast. On the palate, it gets chocolaty and marmalady with a finish that is spicy with cloves and vanilla, with a linger of a take-your-pick delicious jam: grape, apricot, or raspberry. So, where I am, this whisky has a little bit of a secondary market markup, and I have seen it as high as $180. Get it for cheaper if you can, but even that is fair. This is a bottle that will please those who like to drink whiskey, and please those who don’t like to drink whiskey.

Nose opens with lots of fruits and as I was trying to discern them, it hit me…this smells a lot like a fruit cocktail. Which (and I had to look this up) apparently contains peaches, pears, pineapple, grapes and cherries. So yeah, all of that. Add dates, plum, a hint of licorice and soft, fresh cut oak tree. Smells really inviting. The palate does not disappoint. I will say that from that fruit cocktail nose only pear and grape make it through to the palate, along with date, fig, toffee, golden raisin, milk chocolate, pomegranate, and nutmeg, Flavors are richer than the ABV would indicate. Mouthfeel is light and airy; a perfect match for the flavor profile and proof. It’s hard to call this fruity and sweet of a whiskey “balanced” but maybe…harmonious (?) as everything comes together rather perfectly. Finish transitions from the palate in a slow, measured fashion. Oak and spices come in bringing with it a slight bitterness that really helps this from becoming cloying from the sweetness. The bulk of the finish is relatively short but lingering notes of allspice and cinnamon last way longer than expected. Darker and sweeter than the Lusteau edition, this is by all means a delight. Now, I must get something off my chest: damn you Redbreast. Damn you straight to hell for making a delicious 92 proof whiskey that retails for $119.00! Grrr. Literally the price point is the only thing keeping this from being a straight up 5.0. And yet…I still might buy another. I clearly have a problem with delectable, high priced Irish Whiskeys. Someone stop me.

My lovely wife adores Irish Whiskey almost as much as I adore her. I actually think she might trade me in for a bottle of Redbreast 27 if someone offered. In an effort to stay married I try to bring home a nice bottle for her often. I had heard about this release, but hadn't found a bottle until today. Since whiskey is meant to be enjoyed this one is a fresh crack for the evening. Nose is light, but sweet with hints of raisin and a bit of a mustiness. I am not saying that in a particularly harsh way, just not sure of a better way to put it. There isn't a particular age statement on this bottle, but it seems to carry some decent time in barrels. First sip is fruit forward. The barrels have really left a light raisin edge to this dram. There is a little heat that spikes to a soft burn mid sip before leaving an almost port like finish. The interesting thing here is that as the port fades there is a light bourbon edge with a caramel sweetness (almost like the finish on a toasted barrel). Each sip gets a little more complex as all of these flavors emerge. Redbreast continues to be my personal gold standard for Irish Whiskey. I have yet to find a bottle that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. This ine is no different. The fact that the aging and finishing have been so masterfully done so that you don't lose the individual characters of the barrels is really a treat. If you see a bottle of this I highly suggest you try it.

The latest Redbreast edition, has my two favorite letters together: "PX". This "Iberian Edition" has been matured in ex Bourbon casks, and Oloroso sherry, to then be finished for at least 12 months in a PX sherry Butt. Redbreast is always a synonym of a good dram. Tawny color, bottled at 46%abv. On the nose, it is exactly what you expect. Dehydrated oranges, quince dessert, red roses (very floral), and a spongy vanilla cake. There are some fig notes there, and impalpable sugar. After a firdt sip, it gave me passion fruit, and other exotic tropical fruits like dragon fruit. Church wine and a magnificent note of coffee with milk. On the palate it is a sweet as you expect. Chocolate, oranges and vanilla. It is really a citric delight. Hay. Aftertaste follows the rythm with a peat hint. A "grain whisky" vanilla note. Chocolate, tobacco. It is actually Smokey and a little earthy. Actually, this was a very good dram, specially if you have it while enjoying a Creme bruleè as i did. A sweet expression with some peatiness is always nice, my score for it is 87 over 100.

So many good reviews after I hated that kentucky oak (at first, it grew to be ok) and never getting the love of the Lastu (spelled right?). But for 99 bucks in 2024 this felt ok. nose - And all fears leave me as a I get red breast kinda vanilla grainy earthy notes from those pot stills with light and not over the top PX. no over oaked elements to be seen! Taste - This is sweet sticky px goodness over redbreast. The balance of the two is also good. It's more redbreast than PX. Good mixed effect on the finish. Berry jam, toasted oak, toffee, light spices. I know I'm dragging on reviewing this as a redbreast and not trying to explain it as a whisky but I doubt anyone interested cares because they know what I mean when I say redbreast. I'll give this a 2.25. For the money at 100 add .5 stars. Remember i score more to a 4.0 scale so the points after that are EPIC. I think this is a great buy and I'm glad I got it. But there's no wow here. Just good solid whisky.