Redbreast 12 years / Irish Winner 2004

Redbreast 12 years Irish Whiskey with 700 ml. and 40 % volume from Ireland.

The best Irish Whisky according to "Whisky Botschafter test June 2004.

"Delicious, soothing, contemplative. A great whiskey. Makes me want to get on a plane to Dublin immediately." - Michael Jackson, Whisky Magazine.

The second Irish whiskey that hits our review list comes from the Old Middleton Distillery in Cork, Ireland. This distillery is the same one that produces those with the Jameson brand. And like Jameson, it is owned by the Irish Distillers Group, which in turn is owned by Pernod Ricard.

Redbreast 12 years bills itself as a Twelve year old pot still whiskey. The reason the pot still is of note is that its atypical of the stills used in most large scale productions. Instead of the continuous distilling of whatever variation of the column still being used at Old Middleton, they instead use techniques that require the distilled spirit to be put back into the still after each distillation (didja follow all of that?).

Also of note is what's not on the label - the lack of the word 'Single', meaning that Redbreast is likely a blend. Being a blend, and stating that it is twelve years old, it means that the youngest of the whiskeys used in the blend is twelve years old, but other, older whiskeys may have been used in the blend. The whiskeys are stated to have been aged in oak casks that once held either sherry or bourbon.

Nose: Sweet, honey, with a bit of spiciness, a little floral aroma underneath.

Mouthfeel: Lighter than the Bushmill's, but a little oily, but in a good way.

Taste: Caramel, like butterscotch flavor and yet very peppery. Finishes off with a bit of anise... a nice long finish. Still tasting it about 40-50 seconds after swallowing.

Overall: I like this quite a bit. The length of the finish was a pleasant surprise, and the taste was complex without being in your face about it. Quite nice. I would buy this again.


Redbreast 12 years